Choices

 I've been thinking about choices and options a lot lately. For example, when I'm finished knitting the current prototype I'm working on which of my ideas should I cast on next? Do I still like the color choices I made for *insert particular project* or should I change them up a bit? Does the OXO cable really suit that positioning or should I use a 4 strand braid? Perhaps offer both but show OXO on the children's size and 4 strand on the adult one? 

Decisions, decisions, decisions! I'm not complaining mind you. These are the types of things I like mulling over. And over. 

I hope your weather is good wherever you happen to be reading this from. It's snowing and blowing here today. Perfect stay in and swatch weather. I have plenty of ideas to play with!

Yours in yarn and needles,

Síle

What a Month (so far)

 Hello!

Between losing internet (and cable) twice for a total of 8 days, having a birthday, and my province returning to level 5 (ie the highest precautions) in pandemic protocol, it's been quite a month. Oh, and our oven going kaput when trying to make nachos for the hockey game on Saturday night.

Fortunately we're all healthy and I'm listening to Jakey and Silver chasing each other up and down the stairs as I write. There's something about hearing the cats go about their usual business that has a very calming effect, an "everything will be ok" quality. Nearly time for me to think of my health and take my hour of "me time". I'm not quite back to daily but I feel much better with what I am getting done.

I have a tentative date for the release of my Hornpipe Bag: May 15th. If you enjoy double-knitting this is one to watch for. I'm toying with a couple of other double-knit ideas at the moment too. I need to find just the right yarns though. One will definitely be knit in worsted weight. The other I'd like to use DK weight, but that's harder to come by here. That's part of the fun of designing, pairing the idea with a yarn that suits it. I like smooth yarns that show off the stitches nicely, and I tend to use the same ones a lot. It would be nice to expand a bit, so if you have any recommendations that won't break the bank on shipping and exchange, feel free to leave them in the comments. 

Time to get away from the phone and disconnect for my hour.

Yours in yarn and yoga pants,

Síle

Multitasking

(Note: While this post was published on February 7th, I started writing it on February 6th.)

Hello again!

I'm a bit behind on knitting the squares for my temperature blanket, so indulge me while I blog and knit at the same time. You can find the ins and outs of my project in this post.

I'm working on my January 8-14 square, which is a G knot on an I background. Here's how it looked after 4 rnds:

And here's how 10 rnds look:

The cables will start pretty soon, which I confess is my favourite part. 

We're due for a good snowstorm on Monday so maybe I'll get caught up with these squares. I'm glad I'm doing a square for every 7 days otherwise I'd be really behind!

I've finished rnd 20 now and it's getting a bit precarious on the double-pointed needles, as you can see:

While I've been knitting, and writing this post, I've also been giving "lubs" and attention to my favourite furry guy:

I'm sure you recall Jakey from other posts. He's keeping an eye on the iced aqua yarn for me. Isn't he a helpful boy? The wind has picked up considerably so he's happy to stick close to Auntie. He really dislikes wind, poor thing. Sounds to me like that storm might be getting to us a little sooner than expected. We'll know for sure if we wake up to a snow covered world! I think it's time for me and this fella (and his two furry sisters) to say good night.

No snow yet! The wind is really howling though. House feels like it's going to shake down around us. Good day to stay in with a mug of tea, some furry companions, and my knitting.

I'm in the midst of rnd 25 now:

I was "talking" with a friend on Twitter earlier today; she's ordered a book on knitting socks two at a time by using magic loop or two circular needles. She's a fairly new knitter and is more than a bit offput by double-pointed needles. Isn't it handy that there are ways to knit things in the way you're most comfortable with? I'm a decided "octopus rassler", that is I like double-pointed needles. Ages ago I was knitting a sock and my dad said it looked like I was "rassling an octopus"; the image has never left me :D I've been tempted to add it to my social media bios but living on an island someone might actually ask me to help with an octopus and I wouldn't be the least bit helpful :D

Let's see if I can get these last few rnds done, shall we?

And voila! A newly finished (not blocked) square emerges :)

And with the first square:

I think it's time to end this post.

Yours in yarn and unblocked Iona squares,

Síle