True Colors Shawl

I've been wanting to make this shawl for quite a while, True Colors by Melanie Berg. I thought it would be an excellent way to use up left over yarn in my stash. But I used to have a real problem buying patterns. No not overconsumption of patterns, the opposite end of that pool. I really had to want to make something immediately, have the yarn on hand and be ready to go before hitting the purchase button. Better yet if it was in a book or a magazine that had other patterns I wanted to make, maybe then I could buy it... What can I say I come from frugel peasant stock. I understand wants vs needs a little too well. 

When I discovered Melanie had two books and one contained True Colors and I could get them on sale. Poof I was done. But first a couple of other shawls called my name. (And I loved knitting them almost as much as wearing them.)

I decided 2025 would be my True Colors year. I wanted to use up some of my Malabrigo Sock left over yarn but alas I did not have enough colors... what is a knitter to do. (You know what I did.)

But then it took some time to figure out what order they should be in and which two should have a right placement to have just the right pop of color.

I started with this combo.

And added this yarn, but something was not right.

I thought about changing my main color from grey to red, or is that orange? and I tried a variegated yarn. 

That did not work for me at ALL!

Oh this is nice, I like this combo...

 

Burt agreed with my plan, and we knit happily along.

But then our next big decision was upon us. We called in Auntie Kisknit and asked her opinion on grey to   orange to red progression of colors and that was just not quite right either. 

 

Oh that is much better. 

Indeed Momma it is much better.

Oh wait I think you missed some lines here. You need to fix that. 

Yes this is quite nice. We need to make a new shawl first thing every year. It is quite toasty sandwiched between your lap blanket and our shawl.

A very satisfying knit if I say so myself. Now all those ends to weave in. I think I am about a third done but my thumb is telling me we are on no ones' schedule ends will get woven in on a more tolerable schedule. Hey maybe decide what we should knit next instead? We have lots of nice yarn to choose from maybe squish some of it...

Loose Ends

I guess I mean that literally. I find myself at an odd stage of nothing on the needles, but a lot of finishing work to do. I don't think I hate finishing work but I really enjoy knitting more. I always find it so odd to have nothing on the needles, especially after a big project gets done. I'm never sure what I want to work on next but miss working on something. We shall see where the yarn takes me.

I decided the other day that I really need to work on getting my knitting journal up to date. So while D was out of the house I tracked down the journal and my pen, poured myself another cup of tea. I flipped through the journal and found only a few pages remaining. The last entry was Dec 2023! I started making a list of  all the things I knit and bought in 2024 and kept silencing the nagging feeling I had already done this... Then I remembered putting a sticker on another notebook and starting in that one. I had journaled at least part of 2024.

I searched high and low. I remembered writing on it in the office, I remembered moving it to the knitting cart beside my chair. Yes I repurposed one of my Ikea carts to being my knitting cart. Poor Mellie is none too thrilled. (That was my penthouse suite in Oregon, Momma and you know it.)

I searched my pile of notebooks upstairs. I searched my pile of knitting journals. I searched our puzzle cabinet. I searched my pile of new/old books. No knitting journal to be found. I gave up and had lunch. D came home and told him of the case of The Missing Knitting Journal!

I wondered away and started a load of laundry. Then I came back to my knitting cart, I pulled out all the books, there tucked between two books of similar size, it was.

But then did I go ahead and start journaling? No I did not, the journal has set right here next to me for a week now. At least I know where it is. I will have some down time soon so I can start catching up on those days. 

Now if I can just figure out what to knit next. That's turning out to be an issue so far. I just need to do a little stash toss to familiarize myself with what the yarn wants to be. In the meantime I will be over here weaving in so many ends.

Still kicking

Living life but missing writing here. That's where I have been for a while now. I've missed writing here and having a place to look back at how life has changed. So let's give you a wee update and tell you what the plan is. 

Burt was sad to say that I got a job. This requires me to leave every day. He is so disappointed in me, that he is resorting to sitting in dad's lap. Or gasp allowing his sister to cuddle. 

Hey! It was cold that day and you know it!

And that Momma can feed him from afar. Nice but still not right she isn't here!

We still knit together.

And she has tried working here. That is going pretty well. I can supervise her just fine when she is in house.

Even Mellie tried her paw at supervising. She's not great at it.

Then we got smart and moved upstairs. This room has a nice fluffy place to settle into.

I even get to go outside sometimes. There is nothing like the breeze and warm sunshine on your fur.

We've actually been knitting quite a bit and I love it. All her attention is directed on the string and I get a wee tuck in under a shawl sometimes. What is there not to like about that?
 

So yeah I've been missing the blog. I got behind and then got employed. I was trying to figure out how to restructure life and it just fell away. So my plan is to go back and write some posts in last year I want to be able to see what we did and I am the boss here so there is no reason I can't do that. See you in the memories maybe.

I've been knitting now with pictures

We've been trying to stay somewhat cool this summer and get into better shape. So I've been busy not really documenting my knitting. Unless it is taking pics to share with my knitting buddy. 

First up I finished a fantastic pair of socks for me. They are so bright and stripey! I love them. That green really pops for me.
 

Then I finally talked my sister into trying out my hand knit socks. It didn't hurt that I found yarn based on one of her favorite TV shows. You better Call Saul because she's getting Saul Goodman socks from Breaking Yarn.

But like always I am so scared things I knit will not fit that I stalled out on making them. So close and yet so far. She's not here to try them on and I am a very nervous Nellie.

What Momma?  I said nervous Nellie not Mellie!

So I started some Carlsbad Cavern socks for hubby. I know how to make hubby socks!!

Some yarn called to me and said it would make an awesome shawl so I answered back yes you would, and cast on.

I kept on knitting and it really was pretty.

No Momma I like how Daddy's socks match my fur,  let's keep knitting socks.

But Burt I found another set of yarns I want to try together. Let's knit another shawl.

OK but I still like Dad's socks best. Although the shawl does make my fur pop...

A Little Yarn Trip

The other day I took myself off to the local yarn store I like. Yarning may be small but it is mighty good.

Sometimes you just gotta get out and see some yarn in person. Since I am starting to knit shawls more to keep my wrist happy, I've found I need to expand my palette of colors. I am also very quirky because I don't like mixing yarn brands even if they seem to be the same type of yarn base. Somehow it just feels so wrong and I can't get over that feeling. So what to do to counteract that feeling? Buy more yarn of course! Not the solution for everyone but it was for me on this day.

This is one of the National Park series by Knitted Wit. I just could not resist. It is Carlsbad Caverns. I'm sure hubby will get a kick out of wearing his cavern socks from time to time. Maybe the next time we go he will be wearing these. 

Not quite the full range of colors but I can see a few shawls there. But I must have been thinking of mom. She loved purple and I could not pick just three skeins of purple. I'm looking forward to deciding how to use these. 

 

Happy knitting to us all.

Follow an amazing plant with me

I started walking daily back in mid March. I am getting to know the neighborhood quite well. I started with the goal of getting out everyday. It did not matter if it was 10 minutes or an hour, I just had to start getting out there and walking. 

Once my mindset was established I was able to increase my time without even really thinking about it. I would started with a small loop that kept me close to home. But once I was put there I was not breathing too hard and not terribly worn out so I kept going in bigger and bigger loops. I had no set schedule and the decision was made to turn right or left each day. 

Once the heat started increasing I quickly learned the tall walls were not boring but excellent and much needed shade.

I've had a setback or two but I have been faithful to getting out and walking. Now a quick walk ends up being half an hour. I am averaging 20+ miles a week. I have not hit the 26.2 marathon mileage yet.

So yeah I am learning what the neighborhood looks like pretty darn well.

I found this plant that looks like it is a huge asparagus spear growing out of a small agave plant. The spear is over 5 feet tall and a few inches thick, while the base plant is around a foot wide. Such strange proportions.

I walked by it for a month or two without it changing much. Each time I turned the corner I was disappointed. 

Then the spear started to send out off shoots, and they looked so interesting. I was excited to start checking at least once a week to see the progress.  That went on for a month. Sigh I had to see what this would turn into, before my neighbor started getting suspicious of the weird lady taking pics of their UFO plant.

I also stop to take pics of wildlife. Lizards love the walls around here and seem happy to pose as long as you don't get too close. Bunnies don't trust anyone! They blend in so well.

Did this lizard have a bad day at the tail salon? Or did it have an awesome day? 

I kept walking and taking pics, then one day the blooms opened!! I don't know if the bees or I were happier... it was the bees their legs were full of pollen.

Don't you just love a lizard that is rocking their life? I know who gets the cover of my Lizard Vogue.

But alas all good things must end. The plant is listing hard and has shrunken like my Aunt D. Now I will wait and see what the homeowners do this fall. 

Thanks for inspiring me on my walks UFO plant, I enjoyed watching you grow.