Carole Knits

october zinnia
october zinnia
martinis with a view
martinis with a view
gettysburg fence for
gettysburg fence for
germinate shawl on rocks
germinate shawl on rocks
field of flags 2
field of flags 2
color affection with edge
color affection with edge
cedar leaf shawlette 2
cedar leaf shawlette 2
3_27_2014
3_27_2014
3_18_13
3_18_13
2_24_2014
2_24_2014
1_11_13
1_11_13
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
peony-bouquet-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
dale-and-jackie-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits
nightshift-progress-for-carole-knits

Wednesdays Are For (Sock) Knitting

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The pink sock continues. I actually had to rip it out and start over last week, I was using the wrong size needle. In my defense, it was in the wrong package. I knew it felt small and the stitches seemed tight but I kept going, finishing the ribbing and even knitting a couple of inches of the leg. Sheesh. WHY do we do that? We ignore the little voice in our head and knit on.

Anyway.

I’m on track now with the correct sized needle (1.5 if you’re wondering) and I’ve been picking these up for plenty of television watching. Sock knitting keeps me calm.

I hope these socks are up for the task today.

Wednesday Knitting Things

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Do you remember back in the early days of blogging, some 16+ years ago, when we used to send each other little gifts and packages in the mail? Sometimes it was an organized event where we would inquire about favorites and then get matched with someone. And sometimes it was just a surprise. It was fun! And we don’t do it anymore. I mean, I think we don’t do it anymore. Maybe all y’all are out there swapping gifts and not telling me.

In any case, I came home yesterday to a package from Vicki! It brought me right back to the blogging days of old. I had completely forgotten that I left the 30,000th comment on her blog a while back and she sent me a sweet little thank you prize.

In the box was a nice big mug, a leather measuring tape key ring, a lovely little box of chocolates, and a wonderful note. Truthfully, the note might have been my favorite part, reinforcing the idea that we need to write to each other and enforce that connection.

Thank you, Vicki for the goodies, for taking the time to send them to me, and for your steadfast and continual blogging. Your voice matters to our community and I’m so glad you’re here. You were a true role model to me back in those early days and I appreciate all you’ve done to connect this community.

In other news, I’m knitting socks. I can’t explain this, honestly, after confessing about the big old bag of socks I have to deal with but here I am anyway. They are pink, like Bonny’s current hitchhiker and Juliann’s current quilting. I’m declaring pink the color of 2021, despite what Pantone says.

Have a great Wednesday!

Wednesdays Are For Knitting: Ashae Scarf

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My knitting production amped up somewhat over the last few months and I have a backlog of finished things to show you. Some of the backlog was created because I was busy telling you other things or taking a blog vacation but some was due to gift knitting.

That’s right, friends, I said gift knitting. If you’ve been around long enough you know that I do not knit for Christmas. And yet this year, with an empty social calendar and plenty of evenings and weekends at home, I did actually knit a few gifts for very special friends. First up? A scarf for my bestie, Jo-Ann. (I feel the need to clarify, I am actually fortunate enough to have two besties. There is Jo-Ann, my in-town late-in-life bestie. And there is Doreen, my original bestie. The OG Bestie, if you will.)

Now back to the scarf.

The pattern is Ashae by Elizabeth Howard.

The yarn is one skein of Emma from Kim at The Woolen Rabbit. Jo-Ann and Kim are also friends and I love that I got to make this extra connection between them by using Kim’s yarn for this gift.

The pattern is simple but engaging and perfect for one skein of a really lovely yarn like this one. It’s great to work on while watching TV or listening to a podcast or audiobook, something I’ve spent a fair amount of time doing the last little while.

Jo-Ann came over a day or so before Christmas and we had a socially distant gift exchange, complete with masks and outside. I told her this scarf was meant to be a hug from me, one she could wrap herself in whenever she needed one since I can’t give her a real one these days. I hope it warms her neck as much as it warmed my heart to make it for her.

Turns out this Christmas gift knitting is kind of cool.

Wednesdays Are For Knitting: Owl Sleep Sack

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I have a new neighbor, he was born last week. His parents are fun and smart and great additions to our community. We can’t visit this little guy because COVID but that doesn’t mean I didn’t knit something for him to say welcome to the world.

It’s an owlie sleep sack. So cute, right?

His parents are very environmentally conscious people, raising bees and ducks and I figured having their new little guy look like he was snuggled up with an owl would be right up their alley.

The yarn is something I had, the ball band was lost long ago. The pattern is here. And those eyes, well, they weren’t technically recommended, but they really make the owls pop. And truly, he’s an infant and his parents are smart enough to not leave him alone in this thing. I also said I’d happily remove them if they prefer.

I hope this little knitted gift, complete with a couple of sleepers, has provided a nice welcome home to our littlest neighbor.

Rio Calina Cowl

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Are you ready for some knitting? It’s been a while, that’s for sure. It’s been such a while, in fact, that I don’t have stats on this particular item. I started on vacation back in August. And I finished it in early October.

It’s the Rio Calina Cowl by Cat Bordhi. It’s free and it’s fabulous and she released it at the same time as she let the world know that she would soon be dying. Tragic and sad, yes, but beautiful and self-less and inspiring, too. The picture above is the front.

And this picture is the back. Both are after it was blocked and sewn together obviously. And the sewing together is the only tricky part. Luckily for me I was able to FaceTime with Sean so he could show me how to do it. I’m still not quite sure how it worked, all I know is that it did and it came out great!

I even took a selfie to model it for you! Details are on my Ravelry page but I feel obliged to tell you that this is fast and fun and would make a wonderful gift if you’re a gift knitting type of person. And when you make it and gift it? Tell the person you give it to all about the brilliant Cat Bordhi.