Burt's Post

Yes it is me Burt, the fine orange feline that lives happily with my knitter momma and not a knitter dad.

Momma knit a hat but it turned out I was just a model not the intended recipient. That is OK because I don't like wearing human stuff anyways. Even if it makes me look dapper!

I'm helping Daddy solve puzzles by hiding all his pieces. He says he likes a challenge and oh boy does he like me then!

I let him finish a few but I'm always disappointed when they get boxed up again. There is big controversy here because Momma's Christmas puzzle (not pictured below) is all finished but for one piece. They have looked all over and it is no where to be found. Ha I hid it good! Let's talk about ending this diet and we may just find that last piece.

 

Momma is knitting away on something but needs to take some pics to show off here. All I know is she had the wrong stitch count last night and had to unknit a few rows. I think she just needs to cast on a sock or two to get her knitting mojo back but maybe socks don't solve everything.

I'm off to run wildly around the house singing the song of my people for a while till my next feeding. How many yowls to get on Momma's nerves, let's find out...

2023 A Year of Knitting

I don't like rules or schedules my knitting but I love the idea of my knitting yearbook. So this year I did one. Since I had nothing on the needles at the end of the year it felt weird and I wanted to see what all I had done.

In 2023 I knit nine pairs of socks, five for me, three for Hubby and one for another D with a significantly smaller foot than my D.

I knit for the first time my own handspun yarn. Which was really satisfying since I spin bulky yarn. D the hiking hubby needed a pair too but he had to settle for less bulky festival bought yarn.

I spun a wee bit more but the bug has not caught me like knitting, although I am not afraid to buy some fiber.

I knit myself some fancy socks.

And a new simple shawl in New Mexico's shades of brown.

I succumbed to knitting stress and learned to take better care of myself. Go to Physical Therapy it really works!

I knit myself some half mitts to keep my hands toasty before learning compression gloves work better.

I bought from Twisted for the last time.

I knit socks for a friend for the first time, in her favorite colors. She gushed over the yarn when I brought it back from Brno.

Now there are three ladies that have Yarnkettle made socks. 

I hope they keep your feet toasty!

I learned shawls are kinder to my hands than socks. I had fun finally making some shawls I had been meaning to knit and found some new ones too.

I knit D some fantastic rainbow socks.

Mellie signed up to be the Yarnkettle Casa shawl inspector.

I took some socks to my mammogram appointment. Nothing like knitting to stay calm. 

I finally finished my white whale of a project. 

I knit D some non rainbow socks. Alas they are not as pretty!

My sister painted a Christmas picture of Mellie and Burt. 

She painted another one too but I love this one more. Shh don't tell on me.

Mellie got certified as an official festival yarn inspector.

I knit some shocking socks for me.

Burt told me this make do bind off was going to bug me forever so I should rework it now.

All 400+ stitches put back on the needles. Sigh but he was right!

D received his rushed Christmas socks.

We both enjoyed new Christmas socks.

I bought yarn from the Loopy Ewe for the first time in quite a while. See I told you I loved the rainbow yarn.

I knit a gnome and snowman friend. 

Who knows there may be a whole flock of them next Christmas. 

Is that how you name a group of snowmen? 

I found out a group of snakes is a Rumba! 

I would have called them a Scat of Snakes.

It Doesn't Happen Very Often

Buckle in kids; I don't have anything on the needles. I know I am a bit shocked myself!

And my knitting journal is caught up too!

Here is a cute picture of Burt and Melissa to help us cope with my knitterly failure to make a decision. 

I have yarn in many colors. I have tools of all sorts to work with. I have patterns for socks, sweaters, shawls, mittens, cowls and even one for a gnome! 

Do I have knitter's block? Have I found a cure for Startitis? Did my mind and wrists decide I needed a break? Will I be able to find my knitting mojo? Should I just go bake something instead?

How about I just pet my cats and take a nap?

Merry Christmas Eve

Well will you look at this. Looks like Burt's momma is going to have new socks on Christmas too. 

I finished the first one a while ago, the second one will be finished today. Christmas socks for the two humans in the house. Before you feel bad for Burt and Melissa they came with socks and have no need for silly human socks. 

We do not want your silly socks, Momma! But you better give us some Christmas treats!

Some New Yarn

I remember finding The Loopy Ewe way back in New York when I first started knitting socks. They started out as a store that only sold sock yarn and many of the yarns were independent dyers with color combinations I had yet to dream of. Or at least that is the way I remember it. As a new knitter I didn't know how yarn weight worked. I had gone to a few festivals but found them overwhelming. So many colors and textures, and I could have any of it. So I tried a few and bought some that weren't right for me. So finding a store that was right gauge for me without having to look everything up was wonderful.

Back in the day I listened to knitting podcasts and loved hearing about all the new things coming out. I especially loved hearing about dyers. Everything was new to me and I wanted to adsorb it all. 

Slowly over time I fell into and out of love with yarns. I found what worked for me and what didn't work. One of my new loves is Urth Yarns Uneek Sock. How could I not love stripey socks? So I took the plunge and ordered from the Loopy Ewe for the first time in years. 

Ok so we all know it was the rainbow socks that lured me in again. I loved knitting D's socks so much that I promised I could make myself some too. 

Did I ever show his socks to you? They are so bright and cheerful. I just love them and want some of my own.

And while I was shopping why not buy a new yarn to try? I can't wait to make something fabulous with it.

I forgot that Loopy Ewe throws in a treat.

Mellie thought they could have thrown in a few fishes for her to enjoy but resigned herself to some lap time instead.

Happy knitting to us all!!

 

Lookie Loo Merry Christmas!

Look at this I can say that I can knit a husband sized pair of socks in seventeen days, without hurting myself. I just need to check that they match in size. I'm pretty sure but you never know what happens when you're knitting happily round and round.

Sometimes I think the best part of finishing something is reclaiming all the fun stitchmarkers and tools you used in making the item. I sure used a lot trying to mark my progress on the socks. Although marking daily progress was not as important for the second sock. At least I didn't develop second sock syndrome., the inability to care about knitting the second sock.

Burt as usual was thrilled with me finishing a knitting project. 
 

Take It Easy

What did I learn earlier this year? There is such a thing as too much knitting, at least my hands and wrists think there is a limit. I walked right up to that limit and my thumb said TOO MUCH KNITTING! Luckily going to PT gave me some tools fix my foolishness. Knitting a man size pair of socks in ten days is not a good idea.

Hey wait a minute I had 20 days to get them done! I have a sock and the leg of a second sock done. I am ahead of schedule! Time to take a break and post some Christmasy kitties.

This house has a lovely balcony that we all agree is perfect for the Christmas tree, and Christmas kitties. 

It is the most wonderful time of the year!