Tall Tales from Kansas

perfect for a chilly spring morning

This morning I saw two herons gliding over the water as they followed the path of the river. It was magnificent. I don't generally look at the river so much as I walk by.  Instead, glancing in the other direction, searching for the long legged birds in the more shallow bodies of water. 

It was so good to see the water levels up at the wetlands, ducks paddling among the reeds, geese coming in for landings, startling the ducks which then take flight en masse. There were tree swallows flitting in and out of the houses along the paths and I heard an orchard oriole and the red-winged blackbirds. It was a little on the chilly side, but I wore my latest knitting finish...

The Sophie scarf which so many knitters have been making. I whipped this up in a combination of a Rowan felted tweed (sulfur) and some kidsilk haze in a silvery shade. I can appreciate the neat edges on this scarf. My compliments to the ingenious pattern writer (PetiteKnit). 

It's just a little bit of a scarf. Perfect for a chilly spring morning, and look how cute it looks all rolled up to go back in its place when not being worn. It's a very small satisfying knit. Which I am apparently getting into a lot lately. I already have another small neckerchief thing on the needles. More about that later. 

Helpful links: Sophie Scarf Pattern on Ravelry

two hours of delightful conversation

A summary, in photos, of my sanity savers from the last few weeks.  Chief amongst them being the Huff +1 lunch where Marti started us out with a joke about being hard of hearing which had us guffawing and set the tone for the two hours of delightful conversation that followed.   

This pair of socks was finished, AND worn with my Birkenstock sandals on a chilly spring morning coffee meet-up.

You will forgive excess photos of the finished product. They turned out just I had envisioned in my mind and for the very purpose to which they were intended. Creative pursuits are such a comfort. 

The reading of kid books continues. I could not find Bats at the Beach Sharron, but Bats at the Library is wonderful.  Chris you told me about The Borrowers which I started last night, it's a great imaginative bedtime story.

The fringed tulips continue to beg to be stared at, so of course I comply.

My very own Iris are starting to bloom out in the back.  I am enjoying watching them, as well as the poking up through the soil of all the perennial cast members. 

Sanity savers are a thing. 

winter things

Because we are in the middle of soup, chicken & noodles, ham & beans, and chili season, it was time to bake another batch of "really good savory corn muffins" this weekend. Raise your hand if you like to assemble all your ingredients like you are on a cooking show when you are baking. 

Angie loved cornbread, but always preferred the "southern cornbread" recipe; made in a cast iron skillet with jalapeños added for extra spice. These freeze so well though, and are my go-to recipe. 

They never fail. Hope I did not just jinx my next batch. 

While on the topic of winter things, I have been knitting away on this pair of socks. A perfect project for working on while watching The Diplomat on Netflix. Chris and I have found it to be good viewing. We went through all the season 1 episodes in a little over a month and are into season 2. Still liking it.  

February first means the beginning of month #5 of the block studies collective class. The new color palette has been washed and dried and smoothed out in preparation. As part of our class, we had a "guest speaker" - Annabel Wrigley of littlepincushionstudio on instagram. Holy smokes she is talented. In December of 2023 when I went to see Brother in Richmond, I went by a studio where her work was on display and had to get a piece. It was greatly inspiring to be able to see her process as part of this class. 

I have added links to both Tara Faughnan and Annabel Wrigley's sites below. The Modern Quilt Guild annual show is coming up in February. I love (and greatly appreciate) seeing all the quilts posted on social media by those who are in attendance. 

Oh one more thing... Did you catch the interview Julia Louis Dreyfus did on Wiser Than Me with Nina Totenberg? It is so worth listening to. 

Annabel Wrigley

Tara Faughnan

Wiser Than Me - Nina Totenberg

 

I love being the boss of my own knitting

Tonight I have a mishmash of things to share, you could also call it "a motley assortment of things". Either of those descriptors would be most accurate.

I finished knitting a sock. It's too big across the top of my foot. I also started the red part that should have been just the toe too soon because I thought I was going to run out of blue and not have enough to even do the top part of the sock. Do you sometimes find that maybe a project is just jinxed from the start and you should abort before you waste anymore time? I had that feeling several times when I was doing this sock but just kept going. I am cutting my losses now though. I love being the boss of my own knitting and just saying "screw it" sometimes. I will put sock #1, the rest of the yarn, and the pattern in a bag and add it to my next good will drop-off. Maybe someone else will want to finish it?

I had this "autumn latte" at a near-by coffee shop recently. So glad we sat outside because it's starting to get cold. Freeze warnings mean I brought in some plants to winter over, AND I covered a few pots on the porch to protect them. The plants told me to do it. They were very talkative today. 

You would do everything you could to protect this pot of flowers too wouldn't you?

Below are the market dahlias for the week. This was on Monday, they have now turned. I still enjoyed every second of them on the table. 

I saw this message on the side of a sign on a walk. I do not think it has anything to do with my decision not to knit a second sock. 

Do you?

a success despite the season mis-match

Hurrah! A finished project... a stranded knitting cowl, just in time for June in Kansas. I want to be a person who knits with the right season in mind, but alas it seldom happens that temps and projects coincide. No matter. 

This is my first full stranded knitting project and it has been the perfect thing to start with. It's the Treeline Cowl by Dee Hardwicke and I stumbled onto it on Modern Daily Knitting. The pattern is in Field Guide No. 25 or likely on Ravelry. 

This yarn (Atlas) is a dream to knit with. I was attracted to this project because of the pattern, the chance to try a technique, and I just loved how these colors worked together... so I did not deviate and try to put my own spin on it. Maybe next time? There are mitts and arm warmer patterns in this book and I will likely use my leftovers up on them. 

After blocking I can see that I got off in the pattern on one row. No matter. 

I am ready for the fall! A stranded knitting project is very warm because it is basically a double layer of knitting. 

It "fits" just right, not too loose or too tight. 

I am calling this one a success. Despite the season mis-match. 

alongside the roasted pork

The other day Deb Perelman (aka Smitten Kitchen) posted a recipe for pickled cucumbers. But not summer pickled cucumbers. It looked like more of a side salad, something you would see in an Austrian restaurant alongside the roasted pork, kraut blau, thick crusty bread to mop up the pork drippings, and a stein of beer. 

So of course out came the mandolin, and other assorted pickling things. I have never worked with dill seed before. To me it imparts a different flavor than fresh dill or even dried dill weed. Softer somehow if that even makes sense. 

I love that the recipe calls to remove part of the peel using a zester or a fork. It's so pretty. Served with the chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy, and corn, it was a perfect foil to break up all the richness. 

It's still cold here in Kansas. A large cup of coffee to sip while staring out at the snow is lovely. Three pairs of fingerless mitts were blocked yesterday. I don't usually block mitts, but why not? 

We continue to watch the birds and fill the feeder.

That's all the news (that's really not worth reporting) I am sharing with you today. Please tell me what you have been up to that's as exciting. Because don't we still want to say Hi even when we have nothing else to say? 

Helpful Links:

Smitten Kitchen Viennese Cucumber Salad

Where I fashion a set of stitch markers from washi tape

There may or may not be pictures included with this post. Not to worry though, I will describe the content of the photos in great deal so you can see them in your mind.

I got up at an ungodly early hour this morning to head to Virginia to see my brother. Flying, not driving. Which is always a bit of a thing these days. It’s not really the flying itself. It’s all the potential for mishaps and misadventures, that can accompany travel.

The sky, clouds, sun, were beautiful from my window seat.  

While the fellow behind me chatted with his seatmate, and proceeded to drink 2 Bloody Mary’s followed by a Woodford reserve on the rocks, followed by another Woodford reserve on the rocks. I got out my knitting needles, and began to work on a pair of fingerless gloves. 

I like to knit on a plane because I can’t get up and do 17 other things instead of concentrating on the task at hand. Also, it fully occupies my mind and makes the time go quite fast. Despite the fact that I left my small bag with stitch markers, scissors, and other knitting notions at home, I got along quite well. I fashioned a pair of stitch markers out of the washi tape, which worked perfectly.

I have been meaning to replace these fingerless gloves that were stolen from sisters car about a year ago. You have to love a car burglar, who has good taste, and knows a quality pair of fingerless mitts when he sees one. I bought the yarn and pattern for the originals years ago on Bainbridge Island when we went to Churmouse Yarn. Such a lovely store that was. 

It is likely I will not post further during my time away from home. Brother and I have much to catch up on. I need his brain that is four years older than mine to help me recall things about our childhood that I have been having difficulty locating in my memory banks lately. I do not know who took the files with the visual images of all the many homes we lived in when we were growing up. And for some reason, I really want to recall the layout of the rooms in our houses.

P. S. I would like to report that it was not necessary for me to leap over my seat and handle any behavioral issues with Bloody Mary/bourbon man. I was prepared to remind him of the code of honor/good behavior when on a plane, just in case he forgot.

The End

 

the heart loves what the heart loves

There is something quite enjoyable about knitting a sweater on size one double-point needles with left-over yarn from a long ago project - maybe hats for a couple of twins with a Virginia Tech Hokie loving mom? 

Once I knew it was going to fit over the head and where to stop for the armholes, it was a piece of cake. This patten was ripped out of a magazine long ago... thinking it could be adapted to multiple sizes based on yarn and needle size. 

Now the baby Swedish rabbit is ready for the upcoming cool weather.  

Just so you can see how tiny the rabbit really is... and why it only took a few hours and was so satisfying. 

Do not ask why a full grown adult woman finds it enjoyable to have baby rabbits that need to have clothes made for them. The heart loves what the heart loves. No further explanation required. 

I love a finish

Here is my latest finish in the knitting arena. I have had this pattern for years and just not gotten around to it. When visiting a local yarn store in Lincoln Nebraska last summer, there was a sample wrap knit up with Shibui yarn - (a combination of linen and silk) that caught my eye. It had a nice drape, was really soft, and this combination seemed like it would great for wearing inside because it wouldn't be as hot. Ding, ding, and ding. I bought 3 skeins. 

This was a fun knit and there could be another one in my future. All depending on how "wearable" it actually turns out to be.  My sister in law, Ann, made one years ago and I have always thought it looked so nice on her.  

I love a finish. 

I'm not built that way

We had some big white snowflakes today in Lawrence. But just for about an hour or so. Nothing stuck to the ground. It was the perfect morning for a late breakfast, steel cut oats topped with big giant blueberries, walnuts, some yogurt and maple syrup. Coffee to sip. A glance through the paper. Nowhere to go. 

Cold weather makes me want to stay inside and make stuff. Coincidentally, I scribbled down a list in my journal the other day of things I want to get going on. Today I worked on three.  Let's begin with the triangle quilt. As you can see, it has not yet been started. 

I have wanted to make one since Pam Garrison brought her's to art retreat #3 (I think) in Palm Springs years ago. Solid triangles, sewn together in strips. She told me she got the idea from Elise Blaha and today I found her old post of a baby triangle quilt she made. It was fun to look at in preparation for embarking on mine. 

I made a few practice cuts on some scraps to be sure I understand how this is going to fit together. I'm glad I did. This stack of Kona Solids (fat quarters) was acquired a while back with just this purpose in mind... plus a few other projects I have thought of for using the scraps I am going to have afterwards.  

My needlepoint project also got some attention. I think I am just past the halfway point?

This cowl was also begun. Yarn purchased in Lincoln when we went over the summer. It's a combination of linen and silk and is very nice to work with. 

Sometimes I think if I just did one thing at a time, I would complete things more quickly. But I'm just not built that way. My hands and my mind like to skip to and fro and I feel compelled to go where they lead me. 

the bunnies from Stockholm had to have hats

Happy Winter Solstice to all from Tall Tales Headquarters where we are preparing for the deep freeze that is approaching, along with snow, gusty winds, and all other manner of fearsomeness. It puts me in mind of the Druids in days of old, celebrating the yule around a roaring bonfire, telling stories and sipping on sweet ale. Ok they may have been doing more than sipping. But isn't it interesting how the Winter Solstice and the celebration of it came long before Christianity. 

I am not working tomorrow, thus am not overly concerned about the approaching snow, instead I am focusing on this photo that came up today in my pictures from December 21, 2013. Garrett and Gavin were almost 4 at the time. Nine years later they are taller than their mother. I do not understand the algorithm that puts up photos randomly for me to see, or that strings together little movies of photos from the past and presents them for my viewing pleasure. I like them. I think of it as an old time picture album that falls down off the shelf and says "hey remember this!"

In other business, cards are waiting to be written and addressed. 

Maybe tomorrow in between making some peanut butter cookies this will happen? I went to the grocery store today for dates and I swear they were pumping baking aromas out through the ventilation system. It smelled insanely good. Like you were sitting at a table in a big kitchen somewhere and all your favorite Aunts from Louisiana and Texas were baking for the holidays. I am going to make these in honor of mom who sometimes called because she really NEEDED some peanut butter cookies. 

For some reason, while sitting on the couch last night, it came to me that the bunnies from Stockholm had to have hats to keep their ears warm before the temperatures plummet. I will sleep better tonight knowing this has been taken care of. 

the answer will surely reveal itself to me

When I went to the Yarn Barn recently to get some needles for a project (how can I not have a size 3, 16 inch circular?), I spotted a hat made from this yarn and decided while I was there, I needed one too.  Then, with that done, I cast on fingerless mitts because shouldn't I have a matching pair?

The debate over the need for a faux fur Pom Pom for the hat is being waged internally while I work on the mitts. A faux fur Pom Pom is so cute. I will keep you apprised.

After seeing an improv tree quilt done by Maureen Hardy Schmidt last Christmas (link below if you want to see for yourself), I have had the idea to do one. I am calculating the number of trees I will need for a pillow for the couch - made from these napkin scraps.  Sew them together? Cut triangles? Make trees? 

Or should I piece the scraps together in strips of color for the background and make triangle trees out of dark colors? A combination of both? The answer will surely reveal itself to me in my dreams soon. Just thinking about it is fun though. 

Helpful links: mhardyschmidt instagram

this did turn out like I thought it would

My "Color Affection" shawl was cast off, soaked, blocked, and modeled this week.

This pattern is by Veera Välimäki and it was a joy to knit. I cobbled together some yarns in my stash (with a helpful donation from a friends stash) and came up with enough yarn to make it work. 

You will forgive the over sharing of photos but I couldn't pick less to show you.  Sometimes you start knitting something on a lark and as you go along you tell yourself "I think I might really like this", or "I hope this turn out like I think it's going to".  This did turn out like I thought it would, AND at this moment, I like it just fine. It's light but cozy and warm. The fall grasses were the perfect background for the photos. Thanks Chris. 

small, crazily quilted, cobbled together

Just checking in today to let you know what I have been up to.  

First of all, the Valentine socks were finished on February 14th. I'm not gonna lie... I had to keep my nose to the grindstone, but it's amazing what you can accomplish when you do that. 

Secondly, ever since my friend Pam Garrison made this valentine pillow  almost 10 years ago, I have wanted to make one of my own. This February it is happening. Starting with scraps, piecing them together, forming them into letters, placing them on a small, crazily quilted, cobbled together, front and hand sewing the letters down. 

Today, while Chris got out the snow blower for the first time in at least 4 years, I put together one of those "cross over" pillowcase backs, made some binding, embroidered a label, and the end is in site. 

Chris's edges are impressive don't you think? 

If you ever need a deep dive of creative ideas, go to Pam's blog (link above with the pillow she made) and peruse her past posts. I spent a few blissful hours doing just that when I was looking for a photo of her pillow. I adore her style, whether it's her painting, journaling, sewing, embroidery... you get the idea, whatever she is making!

Chris and I made frosted chocolate brownies last week. I am not going to show you any photos of them because they were so good they were bad, and nobody needs that. They are living in the freezer. By the way, if you need a good gluten free dessert - the King Arthur boxed brownie mix is excellent. You can take it over the top with a can of Hershey's chocolate frosting. It you want to.

This book just got started and so far it's very good. It is not living in the freezer. 

Hoping you are surviving these days of winter, doing all the things that make you happy now, while you dream of the things that spring will bring. 

moments of joy wrapped up somewhere inside it all

Over the holiday weekend, after it turned too cold outside for humankind, I made another mitten for the holiday garland, filled the bird feeder (twice), and examined the frost on the northeast facing bedroom window upstairs. 

Upon completion of those chores, sister and I did some Art Zooms where I engaged in tree painting and drawing, from ideas found on holiday cards and instagram. So many good ideas for having fun. 





After that I got the bright idea to hem up the new flannel shirt Dottie sent me for Christmas. You may think that's too many pins to use, but on an edge with curves, the more the better. For me. 



I drank many cups of hot tea to stay warm and tried to catch up on back editions of the the book review from the NYT. Sometime during all of that the idea of adding a tree to the pygmy forest worked it's way into my mind. 





The last very last page of Everyday Journal #7 was finished, a new one begun, and I took a photo of the Christmas tree for posterity. Do you recall where you have placed your Christmas tree in every home you have ever lived in? Nowadays, when we take photos of everything, most people could scroll back and look. But I can't remember where it was in our first home in Lawrence... back in the late 1980's. 







The tree was completed just in time for supper and now it's back to work tomorrow. Happy 2022 everyone, whatever it brings, there will surely be moments of joy wrapped up somewhere inside it all.  

a frivolous distraction that occupies the mind and raises the spirits

Before embarking on tonight's post, let me thank each of you who left a comment on yesterday's post. I want you to know that those of us doing this work feel the immense gratitude from our patients and their families. Every single day. It is all the thanks we require. Sometimes I consider not sharing these stories. Mostly I don't want you to think I am doing anything more than being a good nurse. On the other hand, its important for people to know what it's like on the front lines.  I don't know about you, but when I read all the stuff in the paper and online it's hard to absorb it. What I CAN understand is the individual stories that illustrate the very difficult and unusual time we are living through. And, I do want you to know what that is like.

Now lets move on tonights business... a great coping mechanism.

Valentines Day decorating, much like Christmas decorating, is a frivolous distraction that occupies the mind and raises the spirits. 

Do I need to make a Valentine colored dishcloth? I certainly seem to think so. The nice thing is I am using the pattern given to me by Louise Berndt, who sent me down the path of dishcloth making when she made some for me several years ago. I like to think of her living on in my house, from way out there in western Kansas. 

Actually, as I look around at all the "heart" stuff in my house right now, I see great memories of other women. From the quilter in Germany, to Mary in Santa Barbara, to Pam's hearts and flowers from art retreat, to the hearts I used to get at the gift/coffee shop at unity village when the knitting retreat was held there and we would sit  around drinking chai latte's, knitting, and laughing. Always laughing. 

Here's to pink, red, hearts, flowers, yarn, and lots of talented women. 

the basement provided lots of opportunities for tomfoolery

As it turned out, the mischief making was on the low key side today. It consisted of arranging flowers on the table, 

which led to the decision to polish mom's old silver tray, for the first time in 20 years, since it's the holidays, and no one's coming to see it.

Then I got sucked back into working on these fingerless mitts, a very fun pattern, which also happens to be free on ravelry. Thank you very much Kelly McClure. 

Don't over-think the chart, just keep following the pattern and it works out perfectly.

I am going to keep going past the knuckles. So convenient to be able to try on as you go. 

Then Chris and I started talking about supper, agreed upon chili, went for a walk, came home, found out there wasn't quite enough cornmeal for the recipe I was making, and made do anyway by adding in 1/4 cup of a jiffy cornbread mix. You might ask why I didn't just add some flour or just use the jiffy mix and forget the recipe, but as I told Chris when he made this suggestion "who's making the cornbread?".

There were also a few trips to the basement rummaging through boxes until I found stuff to re-do this little wreath about 5 times before I finally hung it up and left it alone.

Actually, the basement provided lots of opportunities for tomfoolery but I closed the door on it, then locked it behind me. You can't be too careful these days. 

seeing it at the Yarn Barn is what made me want to try and make it

Just in time for cooler temperatures, in a manner most unlike myself (in terms of getting the timing right), I finished seaming and blocking the Haskell cardigan that I started last year. The look on my face says everything you need to know about how I feel about this sweater. 

First of all, it's a great color for right now. This is Brooklyn Tweed Quarry and the colorway is Sulphur. 

Brooklyn Tweed patterns, in my opinion, are very well thought out for the best fit. They always challenge me a little and I do sometimes have to start over a few times before I get it just right.

It fits like a jacket, and the yarn is lightweight and breathable.  Warm but not too hot if that makes any sense at all. 

I took it for a spin today when Chris and I went for a walk. I love it when a garment that has taken a considerable amount of time to complete, turns out exactly like I had wanted it to. If you are a knitter, you know that doesn't always happen. 

Pattern shown above is available from Ravelry, your Local Yarn Store, or the Brooklyn Tweed web site.  Another thing I love about Brooklyn Tweed is how they send a trunk show of their finished patterns around to local yarn stores so you can see them "in real life". Seeing this sweater at the Yarn Barn in downtown Lawrence is what made me want to try and make it. 

no wonder I look like I have some sort of spasm

I did unpin my blocked botanical cowl from the floor and wear it last week.  It is a perfect weight, did not get too hot all day long, and in fact, I liked it enough to know that I will make a similar style, different pattern, to wear through the spring, and maybe even in summer when the air conditioning is sometimes too cool. 

I got the yarn at a local yarn store in Lake Tahoe so won't be able to tell you where you can get that. But I will tell you it is the perfect pattern for that skein of fingering weight you picked up because you couldn't resist it and haven't been able to figure out what to make with it.  

This image provided so you can better see how the scarf lays overall. A nice thing about this cowl is you just loop it around twice. No tying, no knot coming undone. It stays in place. No fuss. No muss.  The picture taking on the other hand did involve some fuss. Here were my instruction from Chris - "chin down, less teeth, shoulders up, head back". No wonder I look like I have some sort of spasm, somewhere. 

Pattern available here as a free download on Ravelry.  A very enjoyable knit. 

unless of course, I talk him into something I think sounds better than what he picks

There is apparently a new family moving onto the front porch at Tall Tales Headquarters.

While I am not thrilled about a nest right there, on the wreath, which is not all that stable in my opinion, I can not bring myself to take it down. It's a beauty. 

The vinca vine out back has started to bloom, and there is blue sky and sun today. 

On the knitting front, this botanical cowl got finished. Botanical Cowl free pattern

Modeling photos to follow once I unpin it from the bedroom floor upstairs. 

Or I may just leave it here. I love how projects look when they are blocked. 

I also joined the shoulder seams of a sweater and hope to sew up the sides, then pick up and knit a garter stitch border all around the bottom and along the front and collar area. This pattern calls for the sides to be seamed and then the sleeves to be eased in. Hmmm will some of you knitters tell me if you wouldn't put the sleeves in first and then sew the side seams and the sleeve seams at the same time. 

Last item in the knitting news portion of this post - I am getting ready to wind some yarn into a ball for another cowl. Winding a skein is akin to walking a labyrinth. Very meditative. The exception being if you drop the ball multiple times and it rolls down a flight of stairs. 

On the movie front, we watched Late Night last night. If you love Emma Thompson, and are in need of something a little bit predictable, with a good ending (who isn't right now?), this is your movie. I enjoyed it very much, Chris tolerated it. Which means he gets to select what we watch tonight. Unless of course I talk him into something I think sounds better than what he picks.  

sweater perfection

Tonight I am sharing Mary's masterpiece sweater, which totally bowled me over. First of all with the colors. I marvel at her ability to put these colors together in such a pleasing manner. The right combinations of dark and light and bright and subtle.

In addition to all that, the shaping is flawless, the neckline and placket where the buttons go perfectly coordinate with the rest of the striping.

Not too baggy and not too fitted.  Just right to go over a turtleneck or blouse. 

Sweater perfection. That's what this is.  

Bravo Mary!

the perfect weight for spring walks

It is with great delight that I tell you my Boardwalk vest has been completed.  

The neck detail ended up being much easier than I thought it would be.  Brooklyn Tweed patterns have challenged my skills.  In a GOOD way. These designers pay attention to the small details that make a garment lay right and thus fit well.  

The ends practically worked themselves in, and it was blocked on Saturday night.  

Sunday we went out for a walk and took some photos.  

This vest is the perfect weight for spring walks as well as for wearing to work.  It is extremely lightweight so will not feel too hot indoors.  

I selected the size I thought would fit best with about 2 inches of positive ease as suggested.  

The underarm holes accommodate my shirt perfectly without it getting bunched up, as has happened with other vests I have knitted. 

Thanks Chris for taking the photos.  To be fair, I did offer to have him model the vest, while I took pictures but he wasn't going for that.  

The geese were at the arboretum today too.  They were not one bit interested in the photo shoot, or the vest.  

It has taken me 6-7 years of knitting to finally figure out what will work for me in a garment, and what won't.  Maybe it's that way for all knitters?  Right now I am enjoying letting my mind run over the possibilities for my next larger project. Anything is possible.  Another sweater versus the Find Your Fade wrap.  I love wallowing in these sorts of decisions.  

Helpful links:  

Pattern:  Brooklyn Tweed Boardwalk by Heidi Kirrmaier
Yarn:  Brooklyn Tweed Loft - Plume
My favorite local yarn store where you can get everything you need for knitting: Yarn Barn

blowing on my fingers in an attempt to thaw them out

Left front shoulder joined today. Correctly. The first time.

And now, it's time to do what I haven't dared to read ahead about. For fear it will frustrate me before starting.  

The mitered neckline detail.  Which is of course why one knits this vest to begin with.  Such beautiful detail.  

The last skein of yarn was wound into a ball while listening to an Irish jig.  I mentioned to Chris we should sign up for dance lessons while this was all happening.  I think he said "not a chance in hell" or something like that.  

In other news, snow continues, and the driveway was cleared.  

It's a good way to get some exercise, but care must be taken that the fingers don't freeze off.  

Which accounts for those 2 red lines to the left of the black circle. That's me ducking into the garage and blowing on my fingers, in an attempt to thaw them out long enough to blow my nose and head back out to finish.  

All in all a most excellent Sunday.  

less is not better than more

Up from the basement.  Out from the cabinet under the mirror.  Things are emerging from their storage spaces.  

The pygmy forest and the wee elves, together again.  Balancing on the candle sticks collected through the years.

I plan to make time to do another elf this year.  I think my ability to pick up and knit the wrapped stitches on short rows has improved and I can craft a better face on these guys.  Maybe.  That does not mean I will love the first ones any less.

At this point I asked Chris if he thought I was going overboard.  He said definitely not.  So I am now in the process of placing the Christmas mouse collection strategically among the knitted pieces.  Always mindful of the motto that less is not better than more when it comes to stuff like this.  

they would have fallen asleep under the spell of the magic of the season

This was one of those impulse grabs off a display shelf the last time I was at the library.  I am pretty sure there is no way I could ever knit all the characters in the story, but I can absolutely appreciate a clever idea.  

Because seriously, how sweet would it be to be in a double bed with a feather mattress and tons of pillows

and a pile of quilts, with 5 of your favorite great neices and nephews

who could each pretend to be a character as you read the story to them by the light of the Christmas tree and maybe a candle or two

and at the very end they would have fallen asleep, under the spell of the magic of the season

and when you all woke up the next morning the knitted reindeer would have disappeared with Santa and his sleigh.  If only.  

"supplies and space for people who turn yarn into art"

Even though I live in the town in Kansas that has the BEST local yarn store in the entire state (the Yarn Barn), it is important when I hear about a new spot, I check it out.  Word on the street should never be ignored.  What follows is my report on Yarn Social KC.

First of all it's in a great location.  Scratch that.  It's a terrible location.  Way to close to where I work.  

The store itself has a really nice feel to it.  Not too crowded, but with a nice selection of yarns.  

The owner, Trish Fitzsimmons, was really friendly.  Even after I asked her way too many questions.  AND she was happy to have me take some pictures.  

They had great gift ideas for the yarn lover in your life, plus all the notions that you didn't know you needed.

There was a hangout spot (with amazing lighting!) for sitting and knitting in community with your friends.

I already mentioned the hand dyed yarn right?  Like this basket of skeins that started calling to me the minute I walked in.  

I love coffee enough to support multiple coffee shops.  I feel the same way about yarn.  

The prairie makers will have to take a field trip here.  Soon.

The motto on Trish's business card reads "supplies and space for people who turn yarn into art".  Check it out.  You will be delighted. I know I was.   

storyteller

Even though I have plenty of skeins of yarn awaiting their turn on the needles, it is very important, when traveling, to make local yarn store visits. Which is what led us to Knits and Knots in South Lake Tahoe this past weekend.

Where we discovered some lovely hand-dyed yard from a local artist.  Who was also lovely by the way.  

I have a Find Your Fade shawl monkey on my back.  And it's not letting go.  No matter how hard I try to shake it.  I wanted a very unique yarn as a base to build my color scheme out from.  

This shop, was a makers paradise.  Full of unique hand made art of every type.  

But it was the wall of hand dyed yarn that stopped Ann and I in our tracks.      

Here is what I picked.  I have a few things in my stash that will work perfectly with it.  I have no idea how it is going to work in terms of striping or fading or what.  I don't know how long the color changes are.   And I am ok with that.  

Boy am I ever looking forward to starting it.  Thanks Heidi for the inspiration and sending me those photos of you modeling your Find Your Fade which is what started the whole thing.  

If you haven't seen Heidi's "Love Letters to Crafting" you can click on them from her instagram feed.  Be prepared to fall in love yourself.  

Helpful Links:

Find Your Fade Shawl Pattern

that hardly ever happens more than once on a flight

 I hope when you see I am knitting these very fall looking socks, you will say to yourself "boy that Carol is on top of things, knitting those just in time for the upcoming season".  

Those of you with a good memory will recall that I started these several years ago.  The first one was too big so I ripped it out and started over and then set it aside for awhile.  I took it to Bavaria because socks are the perfect travel knitting project.  Unless you drop one of your double points on the plane and it rolls back several rows and you have to ask half the passengers to look under their feet for your needle.  But that hardly ever happens more than once on a flight.  

Working with sock yarn is just plain darn satisfying.  Watching to see how the colors will work themselves out as you go.  

I do not like my socks to match, and so instead of finding the spot in the yarn where they would come out the same, I just start the second one where I left off with the first one.  

There are many sock patterns out there.  This one is my favorite.  I always come back to it.  It has a nice formula so you can be sure they fit properly.  (Which I did not pay attention to when I started these the first time).  It's really always best to do a swatch to check your gauge with something that you will want to fit correctly.  

Here is a link if you are interested. Knit to Fit Socks.  Or better yet, make a field trip to Lawrence and do yourself the favor of going into the Yarn Barn. They have the pattern there.  

eating cake for breakfast

Knitting a sock.  Resting.  Absorbing.

Sleeping in.  Eating cake for breakfast if we want to.  

check things in advance rather than rushing in the finishing

About 6 weeks ago, in the middle of a cold snap, my knitting friends and I decided that come April we should go out to Unity Village.  "We can check out the roses, walk the labyrinth, and knit in the bookstore/coffee shop". 

So today we did one out of three, which we all decided was perfectly acceptable.   And means that, a return visit in 6-8 weeks to check the progress of the roses will be required.   Cause there were darn sure no roses today. 

Joan, the newest knitter of the group, is putting all of us to shame by finishing her sweater before the rest of us are even close.  Not only is this her first sweater, it's a complicated pattern, that fits perfectly, and looks amazing!   You might notice that she has started another one. 

Pam had me wanting to try a stranded knitting project.   So amazing to watch the design come to life before our eyes.  I will take more photos as she progresses. It's a Brooklyn Tweed pattern with the colorwork around the wrists as well as the neck/shoulders. 

Meanwhile Ann is speeding along on a lovely cotton sweater to take on her trip to Australia this summer. 

Just so you won't think I did nothing but drink chai tea lattes, take photos, and gab... here is my progress. 

I thought I had only about an inch to go until I reach the underarm where things start to change. 

However, when I pulled out a vest, which fits properly, I see I may need to do another 2 inches in order for it to be a length that I will be happy with.   I have finally learned it pays off in the end when I check things in advance rather than rushing in the finishing.  

best if consumed by February 21st

In case you hadn't noticed, it seems Tall Tales from Kansas has turned into more of a knitting blog than anything else lately. 

When it's cold and icy though, the yarn calls and I am content to answer.  And even engage in conversation with it as I sit. And knit.

Both the front and the back edges of this vest have been completed. 

The edging is nice and clean and straight and pretty.  On the wrong side as well as the right side.  I can tell this is a garment that is going to lay flat and not be twisting and turning and flapping around messily while I am wearing it. Which can be important in the overall enjoyment.  For a picky person.  Which I am not.  But I still can appreciate an excellent design element.

The front and the back have now been joined and I am on one set of needles working my way around and around and around. 

This is the perfect kind of knitting for Olympic viewing.  Which is great since I see an evening of  figure skating viewing laid out before me.  Maybe I will finish eating the chocolate candies in the heart shaped box.  While they are still nice and fresh.  I am pretty sure it said on the bottom of the box "best if consumed by February 21st". 

to go along with my pink and blue theme

Last week my fingers flew as I finished the collar of my Stonepoint poncho.

I also worked in some ends and got it blocked.

I needed to wear it on Friday to knit with friends.   We agreed it would be important to dress alike, because you can do that when you are women of a certain age. 

They all piled out of the car without complaining so I could snap a photo at the "wishing bench". 

Pam did hers with a shorter neck - perfect for wearing a collared shirt with. 

Joan chose a lovely golden hue that is perfect with her coloring. 

Ann selected a cool gray which will go with any color she wants to put with it. 

Happily, my new kicks and mitts go perfect with this shade of blue. 

I also dug out a pink t-shirt to further go along with my pink and blue theme. 

In case you want to see the back, photo provided below.  This will be getting a lot of wear in the months to come.  It's just the right weight for this time of year and it's not too hot to also wear indoors. 

If you want to do this project - details can be found here.  It's a very enjoyable knit.   

on the light switch of a lamp

 This weekend's activities included pulling out all the pink/red yarn in the house and looking at it. 

Then after careful consideration, selecting the brightest pink available to make a heart. 

I am using the hearts pattern one of you pointed out to me.  It's by Amanda Berry.

I could not puzzle out exactly how it was going to possibly turn into a heart, so I did what I normally do in these situations. 

I stopped for breakfast.   To be sure my brain was properly fueled.   Steel cut oats, blueberries, apples, toasted almonds, and a little bit of greek yogurt.  Plus a touch of strawberry preserves from the farmers market for extra sweetness. 

And I just kept going. 

Knowing that people who write knitting patterns are pretty smart and it's best not to question their methods.

It's not the neatest thing I have ever knit up.  But it's darn cute and I will probably need to make another.

I also finished reading Long Way Down today.  Oh.  Poetry in the form of a story.  About how a young man decides what the right response is after his brother is murdered.  Jason Reynolds is seriously gifted.  You haven't ready anything like this before.  Trust me. 

After all that I hung up my heart.  On the light switch of a lamp.  Because that's where it wanted to live.   

a great valentine gift idea

Today I made some sweetheart finger-less mitts.  Because I had this lovely yarn.

And it was snowing and blowing.

Which meant I was not about to go to the store to get flowers to put in this vase even though that had been my plan. 

Details on the yarn:  Malabrigo Rasta,  colorway 886 - Diana. 

Pattern:  Navy Yard Mitts.  You start out on size 11 needles and then switch to size 13's. 

Which means they go super fast.  

When mitt #1 was completed I went outside to shovel snow.

Chris played photographer and put a big pot of chili on to simmer. He also spotted this chickadee taking refuge in the wall behind our house.  I love having a bird hotel that is always open for business. 

Two hours after beginning, I was ready to work in the ends. 

The sun had also come out by this time. 

In case you are wondering what they fit like.

I added one extra row of the twisted rib at the finger end because I prefer a teeny bit more coverage of the knuckles.  These are the small size.  There are also instructions for a medium/large in the pattern.  I am a huge fan of finger-less mitts.  I am blocking them as we speak and looking forward to wearing them soon.   This is a great idea valentine gift idea.  Super fast and very fun to knit.   

if I were going, which I am not

This coming weekend is knitting retreat.  Which I can not attend this year.  Sob.  Sometimes that happens. 

That does not mean however, that I don't have knitting on my mind.  Nor does it mean knitting needs will go unmet.  I have selected the above pattern as something I am pretending I would be knitting at the retreat.  If I were going.  Which I am not.

This is the yarn I am making it with.  Pattern and yarn by Brooklyn Tweed.  There was a sample of this knit up at my local yarn store and it is just right up my alley.  A vest is generally not too warm to wear to work, and this one seemed very lightweight to me. 

Speaking of lightweight, these are my new Hoka Clifton 4's which make me feel like I am walking around on miniature clouds.  In my mind, I will be wearing them when I walk the labyrinth at knitting retreat this weekend, when I am actually walking around my neighborhood.  I also intend to drink at least one chai tea latte and carry on a long imaginary conversation with Joan, Ann, Pam, and Lauren about color and fiber and patterns and how knitting with friends makes the world a better place to live.  

The one thing I will not get to see is all the things that people are knitting.  I will be depending on you all to provide that part of the retreat for me by telling me what you are making. 

I will be wearing my most supportive foundation garment

This is going to be my first completed project of 2018.  Not counting wee elves and trees because they are bonus projects.  Small things slipped in between the big stuff to keep life interesting.  It's like reading a magazine article when you put your book down for a minute. 

The color of this yarn is more accurate in the photo below.   You can also see that it is a lace pattern.

Here is the pattern.  I am adding a link to the Yarn Barn, our local yarn store in Lawrence if you want to get the materials to make your own - Yarn Barn, Lawrence Kansas.  You can also get it on Ravelry if you just google Stone Point Poncho. 

I am adding an extra repeat to the pattern as have most of the people in my knitting group who have made it.  I wanted it just a bit longer.  I feel certain it will NOT look like it does in the photo above on me.  However I will be wearing my most supportive foundation garment in an effort to try and replicate the look to the best of my ability. 

Each right side row is a bit different so it keeps you on your toes.  But that is also what makes it interesting. 

I have completed the back and am zipping along on the front.  The border and one repeat of the lace pattern is finished.  This is a great first "lace" project if you are new to knitting.  My friend Joan, who is relatively new to knitting has already made two of these.  They are great over a turtleneck for winter and also perfect for spring and fall.  

P.S.  Joyce and Leslie I predict you will both be interested in this project.  Who wants to make the reservation for the cabin in the woods with a fireplace?  I will bring supplies and meet you there.   

the gold elf with the pink scarf

Elf #2 was completed last night while we were watching the “I Love Lucy” and “Dick Van Dyke” Christmas specials.   

Elf #1 was very clear about the need for a companion. 

Once you get the hang of it, they are ridiculously fun to make.  

Just so you know, they are as cute from the back as they are from the front.

So you can get a better sense of the size, they fit together in the palm of my hand.

They are residing on the table in the living room where I can look at them while I sit by the fire and think about getting to work on a pumpkin pie.  

And yes, I will be starting on the gold elf with the pink scarf the minute I finish this post.  But not before I start the pie.  Or maybe I should look up one more “old fashioned” drink recipe.  I know nothing about bitters.  If one of you is an expert, please advise me

I had the Rudolph

This week yarns were wound into wee balls.

Hardware stores were visited.  Washers were purchased.

Kits were assembled.

Friends gathered.

Coffee shops were visited.  And a new knitting project was undertaken.

Things were a little fiddley to start.  Totally normal when you are knitting with toothpicks.

Collards greens and spaghetti squash salads with dried cherries and feta kept our energy levels up and the knitting continued.   Progress was made.

After lunch holiday lattes were tried.  Something sweet to balance out all those greens.  I had the Rudolph. A cherry chocolate concoction that was everything I needed and more.  

It was a lovely day.  Alas, I do NOT have a completed elf to show you yet.  But soon.  Very soon.  Then it will be on to wee elf #2.  Jolly elves need friends to make merry with.  

Details here if you want to start your collection of wee jolly elves. 

P.S.  if you EVER find yourself within driving distance of Churchmouse Yarns, you gotta go.   

with the help of Abraham Lincoln and a hot glue gun

 I love setting up the Pygmy forest every year at Christmas.

However, I dislike how the trees wobble on their cork trunks, and regularly fall off the table and tins and candlesticks I stand them on.

This weekend we solved that problem with the help of Abraham Lincoln and a hot glue gun.

Oh I love a stable foundation.

Chris prepared 4 extra trunks for me.  Reforestation must be undertaken on an annual basis.  This is a great way to use up scrap yarn, and the perfect meditation while sipping on hot cocoa on Christmas morning.  

 If you want to start your own forest, a link to the free pattern is below.  

Pint Sized Pines

dreaming and relaxing

Over the long weekend, I had the pleasure of sitting on the couch flipping through Making and Taproot magazines. 

Here are the projects that have made my list for further consideration.  

The perfect yarn for this project is already living in my stash.

I can not explain my fascination with crochet covered stones.  These make me jump up and down and clap.  All at the same time.

Finally, who doesn’t need one of these?

This, is what long weekends are made for.  Dreaming and relaxing.  With your feet up.  If you haven’t flipped through Taproot or Making, I can highly recommend both.  

 

it's good to know you could wear it to a party if you needed to

At long last, time to block my SHINE scarf/shawl. 

It was a pleasure to knit and I was obviously in no hurry to get it done. 

The blocking wires were used for this one.  I wanted it to have nice straight edges and really wanted to open up the design. 

Actually, it seems fortuitous that I just got it done in time for my upcoming summer adventure. 

This scarf + July in the Pacific Northwest with my sister, on an island = perfection.  Wrapped around my shoulders and over my knees while drinking coffee and watching the sun come up/go down. 

I think it will go well with pajamas, jeans, t-shirts, and evening wear.  Which we won't need but it's good to know you could wear it to a party if you needed to. 

Swirled around my neck a few times while Mary Ann pilots our boat will also be an option.

 Link to details on the pattern and designer are here.  It is knit from 100% superwash merino wool.  Rivulet, from Island Yarn company.  Colorway is Arctic. 

 

my hands do not like to be cold

Because it snowed on Saturday, and because this yarn is pretty, and because everyone needs another pair of fingerless mitts, I made these over the weekend.

The "lightening fast mittens" are indeed a quick knit.  I just adapted the pattern slightly to make mitts instead of mittens.  

They are knit on size 13 needles, which is the reason they go so fast. 

Before you know it you will be doing the thumb and after that it's just working in the ends. 

Colorway of my mitts is "piedras" and I got it and the free pattern at The Yarn Barn in downtown Lawrence.   This pattern actually calls for malabrigo Rasta yarn and boy are they pretty with that too. 

You don't need to block mitts, but I think everything looks better after blocking. 

These are the kind of mitts that I will wear a lot - they are a loose enough knit not to be too hot, go great with a couple of my coats/jackets, and when I don't need a jacket will be perfect with a scarf.  My hands do not like to be cold.  At all.  

another story, for another time

Progress has been slow on the Shine scarf by Janina Kallio.  Frequent interruptions tend to do that.  You may recall that this was the scarf I was going to take with me to Stockholm last summer. 

Another scarf (by the same designer) for a friend who was going to Denmark, cut in front of this one in line.  That was interruption #1.   Below is what it's going to look like once completed, for those having trouble trying to visualize exactly what that pile is going to turn in to. 

I also took a wrong turn about halfway in and had to rip out a lot.   That was interruption #2.  When I laid it out on the table the other day, and took stock of the situation, I knew I was in trouble. 

With only a little yarn left, no matter how hard I tied to fool myself into thinking otherwise, there was not going to be enough.

So I did what any self-respecting knitter would do, and ordered another skein of yarn. 

Then took it off the needles, went back to the place where I had started to skip rows because I knew it was going to be close, and picked up from there.  

Now I am happily knitting away again, as I wait for my yarn, because as Angie would say "anything worth doing is worth doing right".   That's what she used to tell my sister anyway.  But that's another story, for another time. 

P.S.  My favorite knitting teacher, Mary, is the one who first told me about Janina Kallio.  Prepare to be delighted by her designs. 

hand dyed, hand spun, yarn created by Lauren

 This is what my unpacked knitting retreat bag looked like. 

Before I left, I made a list of things I would like to accomplish while I was there.  Stuff like "finish gray Janina Kallio Shine scarf" - which I did not accomplish though I did get a lot of work done on it.   Then there was that black Jo Sharp, Aran Tweed wool/silk/cashmere blend that has been going to be a vest or a sweater for 8 years - I was supposed to start something with it.  Which I did.  Check. 

I had started that green sock yarn a few months back, but it felt like they were going to be too big, so after consultation with my pals I ripped them out and started over on smaller needles.  They now feel like the proper size.  That skein of brown/blue/purple/fuchsia has been in my stash forever.  It was spotted at a local yarn store in Iowa City 7 years ago and bought for a specific purpose.  That someone may recall, but not me.  At retreat it started to become a triangle cowl thing.  Sure to be a fashion sensation. 

That blue (Harmony Brook colorway) is Mountain Colors fingering weight that is going to become a summer/spring weight scarf.  The brown (Harmony Softrock colorway) was purchased by Mary Joan.  She have me half and we are each going to make a pair of fingerless mitts with it and see what we come up with. 

These mini skeins above (also Mountain Colors handpainted yarn) are a kit I bought to make a scarf that was shown in a trunk show at the retreat.  I knew it would be bought the minute that scarf walked by my table.  I would like to report I did not push anyone down in order to be first in line to buy it. 

This last photo is something extra special.  It is hand dyed, hand spun, yarn created by my friend Lauren.  Oh, oh, and OH!  I thought I might cry when she gave it to me.  I held it to my chest and tried to think of how to convey how honored I felt to receive it.  I stammered a lot.  It's a treasure and much thought will go into what it's going to be.   

More to come on all these projects.  As always, don't hold your breath.  

people we can learn from and people we can teach

This past weekend I attended the annual knitting retreat put on by The Studio in Kansas City.   January is the perfect time for a knitting retreat.  Cozy fires.  Bulky sweaters.  Cowls.  Mitts.  You get the idea.  It's also time to see familiar faces, old friends from the past 7 (or is it 8?) knitting retreats. 

Time to see what everyone is wearing that they made in the last year.   Then we reach out to touch, get the name of the pattern, and ooh and ahh over how beautiful it is.  That's what knitters do at retreats. 

There is also time for walking the labyrinth, taking a nature hike in the woods, sitting in the comfortable chairs at the coffee shop, and discovering that Paula, the barista, is as big of a Carole King fan as you are when you spontaneously break into a loud and rousing rendition of "You've Got a Friend" and she joins in at just the right time.

Knitting retreat is a time for deep discussions about yarns and why some are clearly better for certain types of knits because of the inherent nature of the fiber.  You can also make unexpected discoveries. This year, for example, I learned that I prefer to drink Irish Cream Liqueur straight up rather than in coffee which I thought was my favorite way.   Only on it's own, can the creamy, smooth, consistency be fully appreciated.  How did I not know this before? 

Lastly, these retreats are the perfect time to sit around and knit with friends.  You can take classes, work on projects in process, or start something new.  Just because I can not knit as skillfully as Lauren, is no reason I can not fully appreciate how beautiful her work is and continue to dream that maybe one day I will.  Just as with any creative endeavor, a group is best when it has people we can learn from and people we can teach.

therefore he did not eat any

The draft stopper got finished this week. 

This is a great knitting project for several (plus 2) reasons:
1.  You can use up left over yarn
2.  Almost everyone has a spot in their house with a draft
3.  This is good TV watching knitting
4.  It looks way better than a towel in front of the door (I submit evidence below)

In other news, it was pie day this week.  We didn't know it, but subconsciously we must have sensed it.  We both wanted coconut cream pie so Chris made one.  The easy kind.  Using box pudding and canned whipped cream.  The Lorna Doone cookie crust elevated it tremendously. 

To balance out the creamy sweet buttery deliciousness, I made Brussels sprouts.

Chris said this was complete nonsense and there was no scientific basis for my balancing out premise.  Therefore he did not eat any.  Which was fine because that meant more for me. 

He also said they stunk up the kitchen, to which I made no reply. 

 

the creation of the blue spruce

 After sewing, washing, folding, and finally reveling in my new set of holiday napkins, I have rededicated myself to decorating.

I set out some stuff on the mantle and then got out some of the collection of trees we have somehow amassed over the years.  These bottle-brush flocked numbers will forever make me think of Angie. 

Next up was the teeny tiny forest of wee trees.  I made my first one in 2014 and added a few more to the collection last year.   I started to think I was going overboard and the forest was too big last year.

Then when I set them out this year I realized that was a complete miscalculation.  It looks like this forest has had some lumberjacks loose in it.  Which can mean only one thing.  More TREES!

And this is how the decorating got stalled out in favor of the creation of the blue spruce.  

P.S.  there is a link to the pattern in the 2014 post I provided above.  Don't click on it unless you are prepared to create your own forest. 

a big fat crazy mess or an incredible work of art

It was poinsettia buying time in Lawrence today.  For the last several years I've gotten ours from Pendleton's Country Market.  Usually I get them at the Holiday Farmers Market, but wised up this year and went directly to the farm while I had Chris with me to help carry.  This will leave my arms free next Saturday for other stuff.  Presents.  For others. 

I am always tempted by the more exotic looking varieties, but find it very hard not to get the deepest most beautiful pure red plant I can find.   This year was no different. 

I am also in the middle of sorting this bag of scraps from Pam.  I have convinced myself that I can make a quilt out of them if I put my mind to it.  I told Mary Ann the other day that it is going to be a big fat crazy mess or an incredible work of art when I get done with it.  

I am using a process that I saw on crazy mom quilts using scraps.  It was helpful to have an idea for just how to get started. 

I am pairing like sizes and sewing them together.  Once I get all that done I will lay them out and try to figure out a plan for assembly.   There will be neutrals added in somehow as well.

This group of already pieced bits will be used exactly as they are with just a bit of trimming.  They are going on the back of the quilt in some kind of arrangement.   

On the cooking front, I made a pot of baked pumpkin oatmeal this morning to fuel me through the day.  Its a great recipe and the perfect way to use up the rest of a can of pumpkin.  If you happen to have a half of a can hanging around waiting to be used, that is. 

In between sorting fabrics and waiting for the oatmeal, I got a bit of cable knitting in.   I wish I could make myself only do one thing at a time but that's not how my mind works.  It stutters and stalls and likes to jump around. 

This fabric might have gotten washed in preparation for holiday napkins too. 

Because if two projects are great, three are spectacular.  Don't ask me what four is.  

when you got a poncho making monkey on your back

You remember this poncho?  The one I was going to have done in time for the trip to Arkansas, that I didn't finish in time, but it turned out ok because it wasn't cold enough to need it?

I got it blocked and seamed just in time for Thanksgiving. 

Last February when I posted about this poncho I recieved many questions about it.  I know lots of you have since knit one up yourselves.  Lets face it, a poncho looks good on everyone, is easy to throw on, is not too hot to wear indoors, and is a snap to make.   Previously I blogged about the pattern here.  I predict many of you will want to make one for yourselves.  Thanks Mary Joan, for telling me about it in the first place.  

Here is a view from the side and the back too.

I used malabrigo rios yarn for this.  4 skeins.  I took the time to order 4 of the same dye lot.  Totally unnecessary.  If you pull down 4 skeins and they look close enough I would go with them.  It took about 3 weeks for the yarn to come in and if you are like me, when you got a poncho making monkey on your back, you ain't got time for that nonsense. 

stay tuned for all the ways you can wear this

On a gray November day, there is nothing better than knitting.

Knitting by the fire, with a hot cup of coffee is a very worthy way to spend a morning.

Especially with size 17 needles and super bulky yarn. 

I went from casting on to blocking in about 2 hours.  Pattern is Steven Be's Jet Setter Cowl.  Yarn is Ombre Super Bulky in South Beach colorway.  I bought mine on line from Hill Country Weavers.  Wow - super fast service from them.  

This is what it looked like when I blocked it to open up the pattern a bit.   My mind is spinning with all kinds of possibilities of other things I could do with this pattern and those needles.  Modeling photo shoot to follow on unsuspecting Thanksgiving day guests.  Stay tuned for all the ways you can wear this.