The Novel Knit Girl Blog

I made a pair of super soft gray socks. I used the My First Socks Class with Lucy Neatby on Craftsy and I made it through turning a heel and grafting the toe- which I did effectively enough, but there is room for improvement. Here they are - and here is to many more socks. (Photo note: It's more difficult than you would think to photograph your feet well).

Although it seemed for a while that I wasn't. Even though I was. I'm here. I'm knitting. This is the first summer where I feel like I've just taken on too much. I am the working mom who is barely coping - and I look like I'm barely coping. I'm so tired. No one is looking at me thinking "I don't know how she does it all!" If anything, they are whispering behind my back saying I should lay off the gin and tonics. We all have to cope somehow. So I was knitting, but in total disarray. My crazy-side took over and I suddenly had about 12 projects started and nothing finished. When this happens, I tend to go for what I like to call a small win. A smaller scale project where I can start and finish something in a few days or a week. This is good for me. A beginning with an end in sight. I had two small wins this week, and now I feel I can go back to the huge blanket that I must finish sooner rather than later. My first win.... I call this "My Som...

Does anybody else get to the end of Season 3 of Downton Abbey and just want to go back to season 1? I do this over and over. I think season 5 was good and season 4 was okay - but every time I get to the end of season 3 I just want to go back - and it becomes a cycle. I want to watch Tom and Sybil fall in love again and the triangle of Mary, Matthew and Lavinia. I want to watch Edith's moments of growth and listen to Lady Violet and Lord Grantham make the world seem like an insightful and funny place. I want to laugh and cry at all the right moments. I don't want to be stuck in season 4. Yes, I end up rather fond of Rose in the end, but it takes a while and I don't quite get there in season 4. And so many plot lines seem forced. And, why do the characters always have to die? And so I think I'm going to go back to the beginning - to the scandal that begins it all (Kemal Pamuk). OK - now that that is out.... I have been knitting - I just have nothing to show for it...

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...