All Wrapped Up

This pile of knits . . . 

represents the sum total of my Christmas knitting.  Complete!

And this afternoon . . . everything will be wrapped and packaged and ready for shipping.  Yes, my friends.  Everything is all wrapped up -- with weeks to spare!  Which begs the question . . . 

Is there time for one more???

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Be sure to head over to Kat's today for more Unraveled posts.

Knit a Harvest

"But there's a full moon rising
Let's go dancing in the light
We know where the music's playing
Let's go out and feel the night"
                -- Neil Young, Harvest Moon

So.  This year, I've been having WAY too much fun putting together monthly "care packages" for my adult children.  Usually, I organize each little package around a "theme" of some sort (which makes it easier to put them together, y'know?).  For October, I went with a "harvest" theme, and featured pumpkin stuff:  a pumpkin carving kit, pumpkin chocolates, and these . . .

Adorable knitted pumpkins!  

Simple and quick to make -- and a big hit on the receiving end.  (Ravelry details here.)

There's still time to knit yourself a harvest this fall.  (Just sayin.')

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Be sure to visit Kat today, to see what's . . . unraveling!

Take My Hand, We'll Make It I Swear

Let's set the tone for today's post.  

Knitting with linen . . . is not for the faint of heart.

Because knitting with linen?  Well.  It looks like C.R.A.P. on the needles.  

The gauge is off.
The stitches are wonky.
It twists.
It puckers.
It is incredibly . . . not nice to work with.

You need to have faith.  You need to keep that washed-and-dried gauge swatch nearby at all times during the knitting.  Because it all feels so very, very wrong.

We've got to hold on to what we've got
It doesn't make difference if we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot for love
We'll give it a shot. . . 

You knit on when you're knitting with linen.  Just hoping for magic to happen in the blocking (which often means the clothes dryer . . . instead of blocking pins).

Ohhhhh, we're half way there
Oh-oh, livin' on a prayer
Take my hand, we'll make it I swear
Oh-oh, livin on a prayer

And sometimes?  It all works out in the end!

Me and Jon Bon Jovi . . . livin' on a prayer!

(Find Ravelry details here.  And once Tom gets back home, some better photos!)

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And here's something very funny.  Jon Bon Jovi and I . . . used to have the same hair!

(Oh. . . those 80s. . . )

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Be sure to head over to Kat's today . . . for more Unraveled posts.

 

 

Baby, Baby

I know you've seen this before (and - hands down - voted for the round buttons), but not in finished form.  The little guy arrived this week, so it was time to get those buttons sewn down snug!

I think baby sweaters are so much fun to knit.  Tiny.  Sweet.  And full of hope.

I hope this little baby has many happy hours of playtime ahead -- wearing this warm little sweater, knit with love.

(Ravelry details here.)

 

Synchronicity

(Click here for a soundtrack to accompany today's post.)  (Weren't those Police boys dreamy???) (Just sayin.)

syn - chro - nic - i - ty | noun

the simultaneous occurrence of events which appear significantly related but have no discernible  causal connection

Shades of grey.  Plus white.  And a mustard-y yellow.  
Summer.  Linen.
Color blocks.  Grids.
Flowing all together.

With one breath
With one flow
You will know . . . 

Synchronicity!

(Raverly details here.)

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Be sure to join other Unravelers over at Kat's today.

 

 

 

Knittin' on the Dock of the . . . Lake

I'm enjoying a relaxed approach to my knitting this summer.  
No mystery knits, KALs, or speed knitting challenges for me this year (tempting as they may be).

Nope.  
This year it's just me.  
And some lovely linen.  
Locked in a rhythmic design.*

Knittin' on the dock of the . . . lake.

Watchin' the ships loons roll in. . .
And then I watch 'em roll away again. . .

This is a perfect summer knit.  Easy.  Soothing.  Cool.

Wastin' time. . . 
(I think not.)

 How about you?  What are you knitting this summer?

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Be sure to head over to Kat's to read more Unraveled posts today.

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*  This is the Albers Shawl from the Mason-Dixon Knitting Field Guide No. 6 - Transparency.  I'm knitting with Reed by Shibui Knits.  (And I only had to unravel once.)  (So far.)  (Because counting.)

One Week . . .

I'm not a fast knitter.  

I guess that's not it, exactly.  I just don't finish things quickly.  I am not one of those always-knitting people, y'know?  I like to knit a little every day.  But it's often just that . . . a little.

I don't think I've ever knit anything in just (cue soundtrack) . . . One Week. 

Until last week.

Chickity China the Chinese chicken
You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'

Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy

 

One week!

(Ravelry details here.)

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Hop over to Kat's to read other Unraveled posts today.

 

Wheel Turnin' Round and Round

Some knitting projects are adventurous because they offer variety in pattern and texture and color.  Some knitting projects are adventurous because . . . they are just big.  Both types of projects require stamina, concentration, and commitment.  

But those big projects?  

They're a little too close to the movie Groundhog Day.  Y'know?  Living that same day over and over. . . Knitting that same thing over and over . . . 

This one?  Totally a Groundhog Day kind of project.  
Big.  
Repetitious.  
Over and over.

Finish one square . . . move right on to the next square.

You go back, Jack
Do it again

It was more than a bit tedious after a while.  But I knew if I didn't keep going, I'd never get it finished.

Wheel turnin' round and round
You go back, Jack
Do it again

Totally repetitious.  And totally worth it, in the end.

(So glad I can move on to something else now.  And stop living this Groundhog Day knitting existence.)

You can find the Ravelry details here.

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To see a "homespun" version of this Steely Dan song, check out this very old video of high-school-senior Erin performing it at her piano recital in 2007.

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And be sure to pop over to Kat's for other Unraveled posts today!

Raveling Along

When I have time to pick up my knitting, I pick up my mitred square project.  It continues to delight, and I love watching it grow.

It’s a perfect project: portable, easily memorized, and endlessly entertaining.

Even though it doesn’t look it, the project is already at the midpoint.  It’ll be completely raveled before you know it!

How about you?  What are you raveling right now?

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Posting on my phone today.  Hope it works...

 

Unraveling . . . Life

So, I'm still knitting away on my little mitered squares project . . . 

It's fun.  It's easy.  It's slow.  I like playing with the colors.  It's a great way to (finally) use all the Koigu I've had rolling around in my stash for oh-so-long.  And it's rhythmic.

Which gives me time to think as I knit.

And as I stitch, I've come to see that this project is actually a pretty good metaphor . . . for life!

• Life plays out on a neutral background.  There are plenty of colorful bits, and every now and again a bright pop of color.  But's it's the ordinary, everydayness of neutral that holds it all together.
  
  
• Balance is essential.  Too many pops of color in one place throw the balance off . . . making you crave more of the neutral, that more ordinary rhythm of things.

• Building a strong foundation makes for structural integrity.  Yes, it takes a long time to build that foundation, but once it's there, you know you can make anything happen.
  
  
• Focus is the key.  When you want to get something done, chip away at it a little bit every day.  One stitch at a time . . . adds up.

• A colorful life is a messy life.  Regular maintenance - and cleaning up your messes as you go - can keep things humming right along though.
  
  
• Risk is good.  Don't be afraid to make a mess.  It's fun.  And besides, once it starts coming all together, no one will see the mistakes, the missteps, the crookedness . . . except you.  Perfection is over-rated.
  
  
• Life is about resilience.  Sometimes you have to re-think and adapt.  Problem-solving is a good thing.  It makes us stronger and it keeps our brains supple.  (And that's a story for another Unraveled Wednesday.)   (Just sayin.)

What are you unraveling today?  (In knitting or in life. . . )

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To read other Unraveled Wednesday posts, check out the links in the comments over at Kat's.