Tuesday, January 3, 2023

Happy Yarn

Even though my knitting mojo has returned, I have been sticking with simple things like dishcloths, scarves, plain socks, and the Eastern Market Tote I referred to in my last post.  This is mostly due to all the major changes in the last couple of months – the out-of-state move, the new job and new home.  I just can’t manage a fussy lace project or anything with sleeves right now, which is why I am completely ignoring the sweater I started in 2019 that is practically finished except for seaming.  More on that in another post.

Winter, schminter...
Anyone who knows me knows that winter is a challenge for me.  I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and a lack of sunshine outside makes for a lack of sunshine in me, if ya know what I mean.  It affects my daily motivation level – exampled so well in my horrible attitude about getting up at the crack of dawn and driving to work IN THE DARK – so the simple stuff is best for now.

I’ve had two cakes of Pediboo Sport by Frog Tree forever in a lovely milk-chocolaty brown.  I think the colorway is #1105 but I’ve long since lost the label and the yarn’s been discontinued.  It isn’t a tonal yarn, so I knew I needed something that utilized a unique stitch to keep things interesting.  I kept looking for the right pattern to use, but just couldn’t settle on anything I was happy with.  

Knit with me!

Shortly before I moved, I determined I was
going to find a pattern for this yarn.  You know they say where there’s a will, there’s a way.  Besides, I had already packed most of the yarn stash and this was the most easily accessible.  


I came across Handmaiden’s Crisscross Scarf.  It fit the bill!  The stitch repeat is easy to memorize, and I really like the texture of the fabric it produces. 

I was monogamous for a while, knitting away with this fabulous yarn.

But then…



Okay, I haven’t abandoned the project completely.  Let’s just say it’s on a long pause after the move.  Because…winter.  No longer in the South and everywhere I look are gray skies and bare trees and brown, brown, brown.  As attractive as the warm, cocoa-ish shade the Pediboo yarn is, it remains, um…brown.

Enter the happiest yarn in my stash and the happiest scarf pattern ever written.

Not just for kids

Cascade Yarns Bentley.  And yes, you can tell from the teddy bear on the label that it is typically used for children’s items.  But see those flecks of red, yellow, blue amid the bright green?  Pure happiness.  And that’s what I needed.  Bright, joyful colors!

So happy!
Once I’d settled on making something from my happiest yarn, it didn’t take me long to find the happiest scarf pattern ever:  One Row Handspun Scarf by the Yarn Harlot herself.  It is literally the same row each time.  So easy yet looks so nice and was the perfect pick.  She used handspun but my talent for spinning sits right down there with my talent for biometric engineering.

I’m already thrilled with it and yes, I will wear it myself.  I may even make myself a matching hat.

L.

Sunday, January 1, 2023

KW Reboot

Where to start…I suppose it doesn’t matter, as long as I do start.  There was a time not long ago when I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get back my love of knitting and whimsy and of general tom-foolery.


I’ll begin with a very brief summary of the last three years:
2020 – First the pandemic, then a personal, unbelievably traumatic event.
2021 – Divorce, downsize, start a new job.
2022 – Move out of state, start another new job.

Okay, you’re all caught up.  No, I don’t want to talk about it, but thank you.

So here I am, new place, new job, new life.  At least, that’s what I’m shooting for.  I had to get rid of so much to fit into my new place – furniture, household goods, kitchen appliances, books, clothing.  You know what I didn’t get rid of?

My yarn stash.  


Isn't that cute?  But no, that's not all of it...


And the knitting mojo is BACK, which is great because my new place is tiny, and my yarn stash is taking up more room in my closet than my clothes. 


The major hoard (and some buttons)

And this...
And this...

And this...



Well, okay, I did donate some of the acrylic stuff, although now I’m kinda sad because I found a great pattern for which I could have used a few of those skeins.  At least I don’t think I kept those particular skeins, but to be honest, I’m so jam-packed into my new digs, they could very well be lurking behind some shoes or something.

Can't forget this one

So yeah, even though my fiber mojo disappeared for a good while, I still somehow knew that yarn = joy/happiness/good vibes.

Now the challenge is to knit from my stash, avoid adding to it, and take control of my fiber!  (and she laughed and laughed)

More to come.
L.