Knitting Through the Cold Winter

 

Some of you asked to see a photo of my Stockholm Sweater.  Here is how it looks so far…I will start the second sleeve tomorrow.  I absolutely love the feel of angora and silk.  The yarn is held double, which gives it more strength and warmth.  It is also not so sheer this way.  I found it easier to wind the yarn double before knitting with it.    

 I also learned to do German short rows recently.  After practicing them on my latest pair of socks,  I am pleased with the results. I knit a lot of socks, so it was an easy way to learn a new technique.  I had the point of reference and understanding of the shape from doing so many wrap and turn heels.

What are doing creatively at home these days?  Winter is such a cozy time.  It is starting to become my favorite season.  How about you?

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Back to Knitting Socks

 

I have been knitting another pair of socks with my favorite sock yarn, Austermann.  I love these colors.  I have just finished the heel on the second sock, and should have the pair completed by tomorrow.  I am planning on finishing another sweater, too.

Today I got some support on the phone from Lenovo.  I have an Ideapad that I purchased from them at Costco.  For some reason, my camera app disappeared.  I tried a few techniques from Youtube, then called the help line.  I wasn't able to figure out where it went, but the technician who assisted me was superb.  

I gave her my serial number, and she went into the system and quickly started pushing buttons.  In a minute of two, I saw my reflection on the screen.  I looked amazed and happier than I can ever remember. "You're a genius! I praised her.  "And such a good teacher."  Computers can seem so complex at times.  I thanked her profusely and wrote her an excellent review.

Now I will be able to attend my next Zoom meeting.  I love Zoom.  What have you been up to lately?

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What Hobbies Will You Enjoy in Retirement?

 

Doing the things you love is a huge part of retirement.  If the activities that you enjoy are affordable, that makes it much easier, financially.  Maybe you will take day trips, ride your bicycle, watch movies, or garden.  

Catching up with friends on the phone or Zoom, kayaking, and hiking are healthy and positive ways to spend your time.  I am seeing more and more seniors out on the water during my kayaking trips.  Kayaks are simple to maintain, they don't require  any fuel, (except muscle power,) and they are far cheaper than owning a boat.  You still can get out on the water, pack a lunch and enjoy the lull of the ocean or the stillness of a lake.  Paddle boarding has become extremely popular in Los Angeles, too.  You are out in the sunshine and fresh air, and getting an excellent workout.

If you are a food enthusiast, you might enjoy making delicious meals, baking, and shopping for your favorite foods.  Cooking your own meals saves a great deal of money.  Taking the time to eat well, and prepare fresh salads and vegetables will go a long way, health-wise.  

Do you like to read or write?  Journaling and blogging are rewarding pastimes.  They are a pleasant and relaxing way to spend your time at home.  If you are passionate about knitting or crocheting, having a stash of yarn, knitting needles and crochet hooks will come in handy.  I found this to be particularly helpful during the lockdowns we all experienced during the pandemic.  I also ended up with some warm and colorful socks to wear and gift to friends.  

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Knitting To Reduce Stress and Get Centered

 

This morning I got comfortable on the couch with a cup of coffee, two delicious smelling pillar beeswax candles, and my knitting.  I found this beanie pattern online, and decided to plough through it.  I had a skein of soft alpaca chunky yarn in my stash.  I thought it would be perfect.

It is a simple ribbed pattern, and I did the straight needle version.  It brought me back to my early knitting days.  I knit many dishcloths on these secondhand vintage needles that I purchased at a local church thrift shop.  I had it completed and on my head by early afternoon.  Yesterday I finished a pair of wool socks that I began over a year ago!  

To my delight, it fits perfectly!  I love how the light-colored caramel yarn shows off the ribbing.  The older I get, the more I prefer neutrals, in natural colors from the sheep and alpacas.  Mother Nature knows what she's doing.  

This will get a lot of use.  I think these would make great gifts, as well.  My kind of project: easy, fun and practical!

Long Walks With My Neighbor

 I have been taking some long, challenging walks lately with my neighbor.  She is very fit, and amazes me with how far she walks.  Today we ended our journey with a hike up my path to the cabin.

Because we have had some mountain lions sighted in this area, it's been  recommended not to walk alone.  I really enjoy our conversations, her company, and the new scenery.  The homes in Wrightwood are just beautiful.

Lula is konked out on the couch right now.  I think she finds these hour and a half walks energizing and tiring.  I'm going to relax in a hot bath with epsom salts, and then do some more knitting.  I have regained my enthusiasm for the craft by completing a couple of small projects.  I just bound off on a simple ribbed cowl as I was waiting for my friend to arrive.  It was fast and easy, utilizing a 2x2 knit and purl rib.  I used some yarn that my childhood dance teacher sent to me.  It's from her sister's alpacas.  I will block the dark grey cowl tonight.  It feels so satisfying to be a knitter again!  I have been perusing new patterns on Ravelry.

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Got Lots of Darning Done Today

 

This afternoon I found some matching sock yarn and darned a pair of gloves that I had knit on dpn's  seven years ago. I also stitched up a hole and a run in my mom's convertible fingerless glove/mittens that I inherited.  I can't tell you how good it feels to have those tasks done!  I haden't worn either pair all winter, and had even guiltily  bought two new pair of gloves to replace them.  Nothing beats hand knits, though. (especially when you have made them yourself.)  I love the warmth ad coziness of wool.  Plus, the fit is perfect, because they are custom made for my long fingers.  I even found my pink darning egg, which I had misplaced in a project bag, rather than leaving it in my knitting bag.  It's an antique, and it makes all the difference when mending socks and gloves.  Phew!

I finally picked up my Carbeth sweater that I want to finish, and have  gotten attached to it again.  I hadn't been in the mood to craft at all for months.  I started with a simple crocheted dishcloth, and that got me back in the rhythm and swing of knitting and crocheting.  The sweater is made of 100% Peruvian wool, and it feels divine!

How are you doing?  Are you making anything special these days?

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Up and Down

Yesterday we had a disturbed man in Wrightwood cut the lines in a box affecting all of our cell phones.  He was caught and apprehended in Ventura, and is in jail now.  The wires were repaired and our phones were running again after about four hours of no service.  It made me realize that maybe I should probably have a land line, as well, just in case. 

I have picked up my beloved knitting again.  I decided to start simply, and  made a couple of dishcloths. I'm using a ball of  lovely, soft organic cotton yarn.  It was given to me by one of the leaders of a knitting group I used to attend.  She gave me several skeins.  The pattern I'm working on right now is the basket weave stitch.  I'd forgotten how much I enjoy clicking the needles.  It really does relax me, as long as  I don't overshoot and do something too complicated or frustrating.

I am busy with my writing and am organizing my finances.  We are in the process of closing on a couple of real estate deals.  It feels satisfying to get all of my ducks in a row.  I am happy with my investments and the dividends that they produce.  I have been researching a few companies that I really like, and plan to buy some more stocks.  I got a good deal on Coca Cola.  I think they will be around for a while.  I was amazed to see how many people in Europe drink it regularly, out of a bottle.  It reminded me of the old days when I was growing up in San Mateo, California.

How are you doing?

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Knitting Socks During the Lockdown

I finished the socks today.  Phew!  It was so satisfying to get something done.  I plan to send them to a woman in Pennsylvania.  She is the founder of the dance studio, Steps on Broadway.  I posted a photo of them on Facebook, and she complimented me.  "Wow! Some socks," she wrote.  I taught at Steps when I was in my twenties.  It was a highlight in my dance teaching career.  It's a spectacular studio.  This is the first time they have had to close in forty years.

I planted some celery that I re-rooted in the window sill.  It has sprouted tiny leaves and stalks, so I hope that it gets healthy and strong in the soil.  I saw an earthworm as I was covering it with mulch.  That's an encouraging sign.

What are you doing to stay sane during this time?  Have you been cooking, baking, or knitting?  I am practicing yoga in the evenings to calm down.  Reading all of the death tolls makes me feel sick to my stomach.  I have to force myself to shift my focus and stay positive.  I made an appointment with an agent to buy Long Term Care Insurance.  It's seems even more important now.  Are your affairs in order?

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Oodles of Yarn I Was Given

Santa came early to the pink cottage-I even get to keep  the bins!

 
Yesterday a friend of mine's face popped into my mind as I was knitting.  I remembered her telling a new knitter,  "I knit for two hours a day."  She was trying to explain to the women who had just started knitting that it takes time, patience, and practice.  They were wanting to jump ahead to complicated patterns before they had the skill and understanding.  I nodded in agreement.  I am a huge believer in drilling the basics.

This lady is the one who gave me the hand spun grey skeins that  I used for my first Carbeth sweater last year, in addition to a lot of other quality yarn.  I've made socks with it, and a short sleeved vintage sweater.  She always buys such nice quality stuff.

swatch for the Carbeth Cardigan: it came out exactly on gauge

Imagine my surprise when I received an email from her that very morning offering me more of her luxurious stash.  I got to pick out all of this wool!  She still has more to donate to the Senior Center.  I was careful to choose only what I knew I would use.  I am just thrilled.  It feels like an early Christmas present: enough yarn to knit through my retirement.  It's fabulous, and I've got big plans.

I am determined to finish the pink blanket.  It's been very cold, and I wake up during the night.  (even though I sleep in a Lanz flannel nightgown,  flannel sheets, on a featherbed mattress, underneath a down comforter, and topped with an alpaca throw that I knit.)  I think the second alpaca blanket will do the trick.  I am very thin, and I seem to get colder as I get older. I only weigh 112lbs. now, which is very light someone who is 5'8".  I eat like a horse, though.  Lula presses against me to keep warm.  She's so funny.     

I have been wearing the Carbeth pullovers that I made every day, up at the cabin.  They are perfect for the snow.  I bought the Carbeth cardigan pattern, and plan to use the Cascade Ecological Wool for it.  There's plenty.  I find I always reach for the neutrals when I open my sweater drawer.  How is your crafting going?

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A Bunny in the Garden

This morning I snapped a photo of a bunny that was snacking on the flowers in my garden. He looks so healthy and serene. I love the natural color of his coat. He blends in so well with the environment. 

not very uniform, but practical

I made several dishcloths with some kitchen cotton yarn that I bought on sale.  My old ones were falling apart, after seven years of use. They were  mindless and easy to make, and getting back into knitting and crocheting was very therapeutic. It's a relief to be knitting again.  I'm getting my self  back.  I even started on a pair of blue and green socks today.  I have plenty of sock yarn in the stash.  Are you making anything special?

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When Things Don't Go As Planned

I have been spending time each morning in the garden. The energy there is healing, alive, and green. I planted sunflower seeds all along the fence. I love how cheerful they are.

I met with a friend today to knit. I haven't been able to face my knitting for the past month. It's been a difficult time for me personally.  I decided to start something simple, a cotton dishcloth. I finished it this afternoon, and am thoroughly enjoying my dear knitting again.  My confidence had returned.  I'd forgotten how much I enjoy it.

How is your crafting going? Are you making anything?

  
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Unmolded Two More Batches of Soap

butter soap

This morning I unmolded the shampoo bars and the butter soap. I made them on Friday. I filled three soap orders last week, so I am replenishing my supply. I went to a few different stores searching for macadamia nut oil, and couldn't find it anywhere. I ended up ordering it online, from Amazon.

Yesterday I checked on my Etsy orders to see if they had arrived. They were all marked "delivered." Phew! I am always relieved when the soaps are safely at their destination. One of my friends sent me a message that said, "The soaps arrived. They smell delicious!" That made me smile. This is her first time trying them.  We danced together twenty-five years ago at MGM.

socks with a short row heel

Today I am baking a loaf of No Knead Bread. It's on the second rise right now. I had forgotten that I had it in the oven overnight. At lunch time I smelled something odd, and then remembered it was there. It's such a treat to have homemade bread. I had stopped eating baked goods for a while, because I suspected they were making my legs ache. Since adding back the bread, my body is fine. It's such a treat to enjoy a chewy slice of buttered bread with my nightly salads.

I finished the blue striped socks that I was knitting. I will send them to my friend Eileen as a Mother's Day gift. I think she'll  love them.  We wear the same size shoe.  I gave her a homemade heart soap last time she came to LA to visit. She was so appreciative.

one of my walks with Lula in Ojai

I took a bike ride with Lula and my little neighbor this morning. She's such a sweet little girl. She's always in such high spirits, and tells me all about her daily activities. How is your weekend going?   

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We Admitted We Were Powerless Over Yarn

Yesterday I wrote about the sticker shock I experienced when I bought a muffin for $4.50 at a cafe in Ojai. That  is nothing compared to what I paid for this yarn, (also from Ojai.)  I won't even tell you what it cost. I signed up for a class to learn a new shoulder shaping technique that uses German short rows. I saw a photo of The Stockholm Sweater by Petite Knit online. I had to have that sweater. I just was mesmerized by the quality of the Isager yarn. It has a sheen. The design of the sweater is simple, pure, and classy.  It's Danish. I was able to buy the English translation on Ravelry..

Like Carbeth, the yarn is held doubled for this pattern. The bad news about that is that you need a lot more yarn than if you were using a single strand. It really makes a beautiful fabric, though.  A size XS takes eight skeins of yarn. I was given a 10% discount, since I signed up for the class. In California, that will take care of the sales tax.

I am still staying in budget. I normally only knit from my stash, or use gift cards that my brother gives me on my birthday and Christmas to buy yarn. The way I'm rationalizing this purchase is that I haven't spent much money on clothes.  I wear what I have for years, and much of what I wear are items that I've knit. They last for decades. Shoes seem to last me a long time, too. I buy good quality clogs, boots, and sandals. I usually find them for half price at T.J. Maxx, and then I get them repaired when they need it.  

Anyway, this yarn is made of mohair and silk, and it is absolutely dreamy. I am so enjoying working with it. It's really soft and luxurious. It reminds me of Belgian chocolate. It's made in Italy. I always am drawn to the Italian yarns. They are outstanding.   

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Knitting a Pair of Cashmere Gloves With Recycled Yarn

my swatch

Last Christmas I bought  a few skeins of  "reclaimed  cashmere" yarn from our local yarn shop before they became an online only store. My brother had given me a gift certificate for Christmas, and I was excited to find this yarn at an excellent price. Christian, the owner, told me that the woman he bought it from overdyes the recycled skeins. I loved the quality, feel, and price. (especially since it was on sale.)

I always write out my patterns by hand

I decided to use one of my favorite patterns from Ravelry.  It's called "Dancing At Lugnasa Gloves," and it's  free.  I dug out my size 2 dpn's from my set of Knitter's Pride sock needles. I swatched for the pattern on a size 2 set of needles, and was spot on with gauge. Whew! I love it when it's that easy. The fit of these gloves is perfect. You can lengthen or shorten the fingers so that they fit you exactly. They are so much more comfortable than gloves from the store.  I used Alpaca Sox sock yarn for my last pair. They have held up beautifully. I think the nylon helps to make them more durable.

I made the green ones several years ago. They are listed in my Etsy shop.I wear them every day to ride my bike  in the winter. I have been meaning to make another pair for years. They are more work than socks, so I have been procrastinating. Still, they are so useful; I have always wanted a pair of hand knit, simple, plain, grey gloves. Working with cashmere is divine. It's so elegant.

my knitting sidekick, Lula

I met with a friend this afternoon.  She was crocheting a baby blanket for charity, and I wasworking on the cuff of my glove. We sat and chatted  for a couple of hours. I came home and had a fourth cup of cafe au lait, (Terrible, I know!) It's a good thing I don't drink. I'd probably be an alcoholic. It runs in my family, on both sides. It's very hard for me to reduce my coffee intake. Something about this rainy weather makes me want to knit for several hours a day, listen to podcasts, and drink mugs and mugs of vanilla nut coffee with goat's milk. It sure tastes delicious.  

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Alafosslopi Icelandic Wool Arrived Today

As I sauntered  home from walking Lula this afternoon, I ran into my mail lady. She told me that she had left a package for me. I instantly knew what it was: my denim blue Alafosslopi yarn.  I had just ordered it online from Webs! I was thrilled. I tore open the envelope, and fell in love with the shade of blue.  This wool is just gorgeous! I quickly took a photo and sent it to my brother with a thank you. He bought me the gift certificate for Christmas.

I finished the first cabled green sock. I am over the moon  with the fit. You never know with a new sock pattern how it will feel. The softness is heavenly.  Here are a few photos of it as a work in progress. 

This  is a closeup of the heel. It's so much easier to knit socks on larger needles. I really enjoy it. I will probably just use these as bed socks, though. The yarn doesn't have any nylon in it, so it will wear through very quickly if I'm not careful. I may have to look into ordering some Icelandic sock wool. I am eager to learn stranded knitting.

Here is how it looks on; I haven't worn a knee sock in so many years! It has gotten chilly here in California. I am so happy and grateful to have so many warm, cozy, quality hand knits. They are very comforting and practical. I should have cleaned up my mess before taking this photograph. I have become the mad knitter again. I am in ecstacy with all of this knitting. Tomorrow I really must mop my floors, shop at Costco,  and do laundry.

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Carbeth Completed

The stitches look so much smoother and more uniform after blocking

On Tuesday I finished my  Carbeth sweater. I wore it yesterday morning to Sprouts and Valley Produce. The two women behind the counter at Sprouts complimented me on it. When I thanked them and told them that I had made it, they went nuts. It was really sweet. They were so enthusiastic and impressed. It made my day.  This younger generation seems so passionate about fiber arts and the old fashioned ways.  It warms my heart.

The cashier asked me if I sell them. I do sell  sweaters and hand knits on Etsy. It takes a significant amount of time, energy, and yarn to make one, so they are expensive. The price for a raglan sweater like this one would be very high because the yarn is doubled. Sometimes you can find yarn on sale, though. It could also be knit in a single strand of a chunky yarn. I was so fortunate to be given such a large amount of this grey yarn; the hanks were huge!

Final fitting before blocking

After soaking the turtleneck in water for about an hour, I spun it dry in my Nina Spin Dryer. I then carefully laid it out on my Meyer Lemon Tree, avoiding the thorns.  I was amazed at how quickly it dried. It only took a few hours, out in the fresh air.  I was able to wear it to my knitting group that afternoon. I think this is my new favorite sweater. I've been living in it.  How are you? Is it cold where you live?  I hope you are staying warm and comfortable.

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A Hot Lunch

Today I made a batch of Mexican rice and cooked it in my Le Creuset pot, in the oven. My mom gave each of her four kids a starter set of the Le Creuset pots and pans for Christmas one year. It was the best gift that I have ever received!

I heated up part of a chicken breast from a pack of four that I had boiled the other day. Chicken breasts are so useful! You can have them in salads, on a tortilla with cheese, marinated with vegetables, or on pizza. I used a bit of leftover broth to heat up my rice for lunch. Something about a hot, homemade  lunch is so satisfying.  I figured that using the broth was healthier than heating it up in butter. I do love butter, though. It makes everything taste so delicious.

I finished crocheting another pot holder. These make great hot pads, too. You can also chain forty-five stitches and make coasters. I like the double thickness. They are heat proof and practical. It's kind of a relief to be doing a mindless and simple project again. I still need to get back to my Carbeth sweater and finish it. It's sitting in my knitting bag, waiting patiently. It makes me feel guilty just thinking about it. I don't want to become one of those "startitis knitters" with eight different projects on their needles. No offense to anyone, it just stresses me out  not to complete things. 

Shea butter, olive oil, and coconut oil for today's batch of soap

The weather is getting colder at night. I wear my plaid Lanz flannel nightgown, which I love. I may invest in a pair of flannel sheets, as well. I've been using the alpaca and wool throw that  I knit several years ago. It's perfect to put on my lap while enjoying an early morning cup of coffee and crocheting.  

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A Little White Baby Sweater With Eyelets

A few days ago I started working on another newborn sweater. It's very sweet. It has a v-neck, and several rows of eyelets. It's another  free pattern. Here is the link to the blog. It's called the Baby Eyelet Cardi. I've been enjoying the pattern. It's pleasant and meditative.

 
I love making baby clothes, because they knit up so quickly. It's exciting to see things get finished in such a short time. I plan to make some booties to match this, since I will have plenty of leftover yarn. It was given to me by a lady in my knitting group. There is something so fresh and innocent about white. It will suit either a baby boy or girl.

Yesterday  I picked from my stash  this lovely skein  that I bought myself for my birthday last October. I had planned to make another Lost In Time shawl with it. It's perfect for the hot weather. I think I will knit a shawl instead of crocheting one. I love the colors. It's a mixture of cotton and acrylic. I find that I wear shawls over sundresses for several months of the year. Now that it's getting to be so hot, I will switch over to a cotton blend. Most of the shawls that I have made are  a combination of wool and silk. One is alpaca. I'm becoming one of those shawl ladies. They are really fabulous as you get older. They cover all the right places...

 Sheepjies Whirl looks like a lot of fun to use. I am looking forward to watching the colors change as I knit. This shade is called Slice O' Cherry Pie.  It's a tough decision sometimes, whether to knit or crochet... 

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Another Baby Blanket and Cool Evenings

I started a baby blanket today. It's going to be  for my friend's grandson. He is due in October. This is the stroller blanket that I usually crochet for gifts. I had the yarn in my stash. One of the ladies I used to knit with gave me several balls of baby yarn that she didn't need. It's so nice to have a variety of colors and wool available for gifts. It saves me money,  and provides hours of enjoyment. I had forgotten how meditative crocheting is. It really relaxes me.

The Hermiones Socks are coming along well. I completed the gusset today. Now it's smooth sailing. I just need to finish the foot and the toe, and then will do the second sock.  It's a different toe  than I have done in the past. Following the pattern will make me think. Sometimes I like doing patterns I know well, because it is pretty stress-free. I try to keep a balance of challenging projects and easy, simple knits. I still need to finish that Carbeth sweater. Some of the knitters on Ravelry were knitting it in four days. I just can't deal with alpaca when the temperature has been over 100 degrees. I think I'll wait till it's cooler. No wonder I was calling it Carpark.

The evenings have been cooler. I enjoy sitting out on the patio and watching colors of the sky shift and change. Each time I exercise Lula,  I walk by my neighbor's  horses and goats.  It gives a nice feel to our street to have farm animals. So many of the residents have chickens. You can hear the roosters crowing each morning. I love the sound of the hens squawking after they lay their eggs. It's the perfect natural  music to listen to as I drink my morning coffee. How are things with you?

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Then Hens Are Still Laying In This Extreme Heat

I have been checking on my hens regularly, because the weather has been extremely hot. It has been 105 degrees here in  Southern California. Yesterday it was 115 in Newport! I've been giving my chickens frozen watermelon, and putting ice cubes in their water. It seems to help. Unfortunately, the ants LOVE watermelon, too. Oh well.   Today I received two eggs! I was thrilled. When I used to keep chickens, they always stopped laying in the hot weather. I thought that  it was natural.  My neighbor, (who sells eggs,) taught me that if you keep feeding your chickens lots of fresh fruits and vegetables over the summer, and change the water daily, they will keep laying. She is right, and I am so pleased. The fresh eggs are wonderful and nutritious.

Snow White has been sitting on her nest constantly. She makes a purring sound, and seems very content. She still lays regularly, though. Silkies are very good mothers. I think she is trying to hatch that golf ball that I put in the nest as a dummy egg. I love that honking sound that they make after laying. I join in the chorus with them, and they look at me like, "Did you just lay an egg, too?" I've read that it's their signal to the rooster that they are fertile. The whole process fascinates me. It's so healthy and productive. They inspire me to grow more food.

I did a lot of work on my sock today. Unfortunately, I misunderstood the pattern, and the heel is facing the wrong way. That's okay, I'll fix it. Knitting is like life. You have to correct your mistakes. I went down to a size zero needle for the heel, because these socks were looking so big to me. I tried them on, and they fit. I'm used to ribbed socks, which have a more elasticized leg. It's a pretty pattern, though. I'm enjoying it. I forced myself to try this heel pattern, which is a new one for me. If I had listened to my intuition, I would have fixed the mistake right away. I felt disoriented. Oh well. Ravelry is great for asking knitting questions. I received several helpful answers. What a fantastic resource it is. How is your weekend going?

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