North Sea Shawl

Dear Mom,

Two weeks ago, it was very chilly here - chilly enough to warrant a sweater, jacket, and scarf. The weather quickly turned warm (even hot) again, but that little chill got me thinking about winter knitting. I searched Folk Shawls for a likely pattern.


This is actually the second time I've started this pattern, the North Sea Shawl. I began Labor Day weekend happily knitting it out of some local Illinois yarn I picked up earlier this year, only to realize late Saturday that I only had about two-thirds the yarn I'd need. So I ripped it out and the frustration that ensued led me to make some very bad (and kind of hilarious) decisions, which I'll share with you next time.


This time, it's going well, though. For needles, I'm using the wooden strawberry-ended Peace Fleece needles I found in that little store in Zanesville with you. The strawberry theme around here lately has been wonderful, if seasonally disorienting.

Love,
Gwen

ready for snow

Dear Mom,

This last week, as you know, is an auspicious one for our family - three birthdays in seven days! As you also know, I visited the third birthday celebrant and her family this weekend, with knit gifts aboard for the girl who asked for strawberry cake (it was strawberry pie instead, and it was delicious!):

It's fair to say she was a highly enthusiastic wearer, but somewhat reluctant model.

Love,
Gwen

Hello, baby

Baby Genius Burpcloth, MasonDixon Knitting

Dear Mom,

I often ask my students to share things when I do attendance, in attempt to build any sort of an esprit de corps. Yesterday morning, the first chilly morning we've had, I asked them to tell us what their favorite item of cold weather clothing is, and why.

Herringbone bootees, 50 Baby Bootees to Knit, Brown Sheep Cotton Fine

The overwhelmingly popular response was "a hoodie." Only a few students said "a sweater," or "scarves," or "mittens."

Cable Socks, 50 Baby Bootees to Knit, Baby Ull

I hope that the baby who I knit these things for is better prepared with more interesting, less carefully anonymous answers to that question when she's 18.


Oh, and we'll teach her to love pie, too. :)

Love,
Gwen

Miracles

Hi Gwen,

Today the sun came out and became the perfect day to catch up on pictures. I am trying to decide if I should proceed in a chronological or thematic manner. My sixth grade training in outlining is rearing its head. Roman numerals and capital A's and B's are floating around.

Let's begin with you....

Your rose socks are terrific. I like the subtle striping of your yarn very much. Thanks for helping me knit my first pair of socks. I especially like the time I called you in your car and you just happened to have the directions with you. After some very pointed questions from me you told me to just do it exactly like they pictured it and it would work. And it did! It was a knitting miracle.

Well, here is my second pair of socks in development...

This pair is knit from the top down. I think it is a minor miracle how the heel turns and off you go knitting the foot. Knitting the heel turn gave me pause a few times. One afternoon while Julie was here I spent a better portion of it charting out the increases and decreases to get the hell (this is a real typo, yikes, the mind too funny sometimes) heel to turn. Thank goodness for the internet research. Of course I had figured out how to do the math a different way using the same directions. Never underestimate the ability of a person (me) to invent another way to do the very thing so carefully described.

I am already thinking ahead to the next time I use this pattern. I wonder if it would be too heavy to continue the slipped stitch pattern on to the bottom of the heel and foot?

The ribbing pattern for the top of the sock will continue on to the instep. The knit-through the-back-of-the-loop on each edge of the rib repeat leaves that little raised pattern. I am enjoying the light striping of this yarn. This is the same Trekking yarn as our socks.

I finished the knitted pouch. This project was done in the denim yarn that is so much fun to knit. I worked on it during Grandpa's surgery and recovery days. No matter what life brings... Remember to Live ,Love, and Laugh. You just never know what miracles are on the way.

Love,

Mom