The Novel Knit Girl Blog

I've been having a tough time. To get through it, I've made hats. On for my son (kid 2), one for my husband, and one for me. They are all patterns by Stephanie Japel - one of my favorite knitwear designers - two Wheeler hats and a Sawtooth hat. I have enough of the grey and white ecological wool that I can probably make many (many) more hats. SAWTOOTH - Photo taken June 1, 2015 (it's still cold in Wisconsin)  A couple of Wheelers.... for the men in my life.... On the needles this week. Still working on the wedding blanket, but I've taken a bit of a break. I cast on for my first top-down sweater (grey, of course) and started a hooded top for Kid 1 in yarn I bought for a different project. I have 3 weeks to make hooded "Woodsie" tops for both kids before they go up north. With my mood lately, this task seems totally doable.

Well, I finished the Chevron Lace Mitts from The Chevron Knit Collection class on Craftsy - and I love them. After taking a break they came together very easily and the thumb gusset wasn't so bad after all. Now, I can take on all of the other mittens and fingerless gloves that I've put on the back burner because of my double pointed needle or thumb hole fear. My gateway gloves.... On my needles: Big project. Cromwell Blanket for my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law. It's a fast and slow project all at once.

It's spring. Finally. I know this because some days are hot and muggy while others still contain a pretty serious chill in the air. Both options are okay with me right now. I love warmth, but I'm not quite ready to be done with my cozy winter clothes. I've been working on my Lace Chevron Fingerless Mitts that I took a break from back in October. I've made two mitts, but in mismatched sizes - so I'm making two more. I've only managed one thumb hole so far, but there is a completed thumb hole, so I'm calling this success. I should have a picture to post shortly. My life has been hectic lately. I've been taking the puppy for two walks per day (with training that includes saying the words "heel" and "come!" so many times that I feel a little like "Rain Man") while attempting to fit three couch to 10K runs in per week - all while simply trying to keep my head above water with everything else that happens during the course o...

A few weeks ago, well, I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but I went to work and left early and came home with a 9-month-old puppy. She's adorable. A Shih Tzu / terrier mix with an absolutely fabulous under bite. Here's Penelope. She's happy and trainable and so far a great family companion. This doesn't mean I haven't been knitting, it just means I've been crazy. I made a few headbands: A turban for my daughter and another one for me. Here are the headbands.... adorable kid 1 is my model. I've also bought a good amount of yarn in anticipation of some great knitting adventures in the coming months (wait, wasn't there a resolution about this? Shit). I have sweaters to knit! Ideas and more ideas for knitting projects! Just not quite enough time, ever, to complete them. I need to knit through some of the yarn I've accumulated though. (feeling shame) So, here is a pair of toast mitts. I love them and just need to perfect a...

Sorry in advance, this entry will be writing heavy. It's been a difficult winter. I have a recent four-year-old and an almost 7-year-old and I work full-time and we live in Wisconsin. None of this is anything to complain about (except this living in Wisconsin in the winter part, but I'm not technically allowed to complain about that). But I'm the kind of person that when things get to be too much, I need a day to knit and watch Downton Abbey. I took that day this past Tuesday. Season 2 wartime Downton Abbey + knitting = happiness (or as close to it as I can come when it is less than 20 degrees outside). The weekend involved a trip to the circus with the kids which I have mixed feelings all around on the experience. I'd never gone, so I felt like I couldn't judge. Now that I've gone I can judge and never go again. We also had a 7-yr-old boy's bowling birthday party, which was fun - but if you don't know me, this is all a lot for me. Work on Monday m...

No reasoning behind my title today except that Valentine's Day is coming up and I can't get the song "painting the roses red" from Alice in Wonderland out of my head. I've been in a knitting rut. I'm starting to think that mittens and fingerless gloves are just not meant for me to knit. I really want a pair of warm woolen mittens. I'm on attempt #7 for the left mitten. After that, I need to make a second one. And it isn't going well. It probably doesn't help that I choose a somewhat difficult pattern for a first go... but they look really  warm. I'm not giving up. I will post a pair of mittens and fingerless gloves yet. I finished a triangle scarf over the weekend that took much too long to complete. It was all in garter stitch and bored me, which resulted in an unsaved dropped stitch and slightly mismatched lengths. This is an example of  my need to complete something over powering my need for it to be done well. It's done. Check ma...

Since January is nearly done, it's time to reflect on what I hope to accomplish this year (right?). Every year I have the same resolutions, which should tell you something about me. This year, I'm simplifying. 1) Knit with yarn I have. I am not allowed to buy any more yarn until I get through at least a good portion of my stash. It's a large stash. I have three projects in the works now, and a few quickies I hope to breeze through this weekend. I love yarn. I love the possibilities. Sometimes my excitement gets ahead of my time and talent availabilities. (This also means that I need to use up yarn that I don't like. So I've returned to a project that was one of the first "kits" I bought after graduating from swatching. It involves a not beautiful burgundy-colored "homespun" yarn and a shrug that seems like a bad idea now. But it will be finished - and possibly donated. Or maybe it will be fabulous. That's the great thing about projects. ...